WASHINGTON, May 2 (Xinhua) -- Dirk Nowitzki scored 27 points and Josh Howard chipped in with 24 as the Dallas Mavericks crushed the Memphis Grizzlies 102-76 on Monday, to complete a four-game sweep of their Western Conference quarter-final.

    The Los Angeles Clippers join the Mavericks in the West semi-finals after defeating the Denver Nuggets 101-83 to win their first playoff series in 30 years.

    The top-seeded Detroit Pistons moved closer to clinching a spot in the next round beating the Milwaukee Bucks 109-99 to lead their best-of-seven series 3-1 with Game Five set for Wednesday in Auburn Hills.

    Dallas will now await the winner between reigning NBA champion San Antonio Spurs and Sacramento Kings with that series level at 2-2.

    Averaging more than 30 points through the first three games of the series, Nowitzki once again set the tone for the Mavericks bagging 13 in the opening half as Dallas eased into the intermission with a 48-39 lead.

    The German continued to impress after the break nailing 11 morepoints in the third as the Mavericks took command 79-61 heading into the final quarter.

    Pau Gasol had 25 points for the fifth-seeded Grizzlies while Mike Miller was the only other Memphis player to hit double figures with 10.

    In Milwaukee, Chauncey Billups scored a game-high 34 points, including 16-of-16 from the free-throw line, as the top-seeded Pistons rebounded from an embarrassing Game Three loss to push the Bucks to the brink of elimination.

    After cruising to comfortable wins in Games One and Two, Detroit seemed to run out of gas on Saturday as the Bucks returned home to claim a decisive 124-104 victory.

    But the Pistons were back firing on all cylinders for Game Four,putting away the Bucks after squandering a 15-point first-half lead.

    Richard Hamilton and Tayshaun Prince each scored 18 points while Antonio McDyess helped out with 11 points and 11 rebounds. Michael Redd paced the Bucks with 33 points.

    The Bucks led 76-74 entering the final quarter but could not hold off the top-ranked Pistons, who rallied behind Billups, who hit for 13 points and made all 10 of his free throws.

    Milwaukee would continue to battle regaining the lead 86-85 with just under six minutes to play.

    But Pistons displayed their championship mettle responding withan 8-0 run to nose in front where they stayed.

    In Los Angeles, Cuttino Mobley and Corey Maggette each poured 23 points and Elton Brand added 21 points and 13 rebounds as the Clippers cruised past the Nuggets 101-83 to close out their best-of-seven series 4-1.

    Sam Cassell and Chris Kaman each contributed 10 points and seven rebounds for the Clippers. Carmelo Anthony led the Nuggets with 23 points. Enditem