The NBA playoff matchups are now set. With the Lakers overtime win over the Kings Wednesday night, they secured the 2 seed, setting up a matchup with the 7 seeded New Orleans Hornets.
In their regular season finale in Dallas, the Hornets played a solid first half, leading the Mavericks 61-58. The second half was a different story, as New Orleans rested key players and only scored 28 second half points. The result was a dominant 121-89 victory for the Mavericks.
Playing in front of a pathetic crowd of 12,558, the Hornets lost their regular season home finale on Monday night, falling to the Jazz 90-78. New Orleans shot a putrid 37.8% from the field. The Hornets (46-35) now hold the eighth seed in the Western Conference, a half game behind Memphis (46-34) and 1 1/2 games behind Portland (46-33).
If you're a Hornet fan, chances are, you think about all the uncertainty of the future. Will there be an NBA lockout? Will David West recover from his knee injury? Will he opt out, resign, or test free agency? Will Chris Paul want to stick around New Orleans after next season? You might also have questions about the past. What if Marcus Thornton wasn't traded? What if Gary Chouest purchased the team? At the moment, the Hornets are in the postseason. Enjoy the present.
For the third time in four years, the New Orleans Hornets will be part of the NBA's postseason. The Hornets punched their ticket Wednesday night with a 101-93 victory over the Houston Rockets. Chris Paul scored 28 points, dished out 10 assists, and pulled down 9 boards. Trevor Ariza scored 19, snagged 5 rebounds, and led the defense with 6 steals.
New Orleans is now 6th in the Western Conference after their hard fought 95-91 win over Portland on Wednesday night. Carl Landry had a big night, leading the Hornets in scoring with 21.
On the day the Hornets learned they lost David West for the season, New Orleans went into Phoenix and won for the fifth time in their last seven games. Carl Landry, starting at PF for the injured West, scored 19 points, helping the Hornets beat the Suns 106-100.
Emeka Okafor hit a miraculous shot as time expired in regulation. The improbable banker forced overtime in Salt Lake City. The Hornets took care of business in the extra period, earning a 121-117 victory. David West however, had to be wheeled off the court in the 4th quarter with an injury to his left knee. West led N.O. with 29 points.
After suffering a concussion that sidelined him from the last two games, Hornets all-star PG Chris Paul returned to practice Thursday. The practice was not physical, and Paul has still not been cleared to play Saturday against Sacramento.
The New Orleans came back from seven points down in the final 1:13 to defeat the Dallas Mavericks, on Wednesday evening. The Associated Press, courtesy of espn.com, has the story, below.
Something has to be wrong with Chris Paul's knee. All the best players go through slumps, but this is beyond a slump. A slump would be welcome compared to this. To be outplayed by Kyle Lowry, Jose Calderon, and Toney Douglas in 4 days does not happen to one of the best players in the world, not even on a bad night. With Paul's play suffering, the Hornets continue to fall apart, losing again on Wednesday night in NY 107-88.
The sellout crowd in New Orleans was loud and proud when the Hornets were up by 16. By the end of the game, they were quiescent and disappointed as their team lost to the scrappy Rockets 91-89. David West scored 22 points in a losing effort.
New Orleans looks fresh and defensively charged since returning from the all-star break. The Hornets won their second in a row Friday night in Minneapolis, defeating the Timberwolves 95-81. Despite the absence of David West who missed the game due to a death in the family, New Orleans didn't miss a beat. The Hornets were absolutely relentless on defense, flustering Minnesota all night. Emeka Okafor returned from an oblique injury after missing ten games and patrolled the paint all night.
Backup Hornet point guard Jarrett Jack was arrested and charged with drunken driving early Sunday morning in Atlanta. In a statement, the Hornets claim to be taking the matter "very seriously."
New Orleans lost their fourth consecutive game Wednesday night, their longest losing streak of the season. The Hornets were up by 5 with 45 seconds in regulation, but let the game slip into overtime. Chris Paul's three point shot rimmed out at the end of overtime, and the Nets beat the Hornets 103-101.
New Orleans won their 10th straight game Wednesday night in Oakland. The Hornets shot 62% from the field on their way to a 112-103 victory over the Warriors. All five Hornet starters finished in double figures.
The sellout crowd at the Hive went berzerk when the Hornets took a two point lead with 0.5 seconds left on a David West jumper to silence the Oklahoma City Thunder 91-89. New Orleans has won nine in a row.
According to team records, the Spurs are the best the NBA has to offer. Saturday night in New Orleans, the Hornets gave the Spurs the best they had to offer. The result, a dominant performance for the hottest team in the league as the Hornets thump San Antonio 96-72. New Orleans has now won 8 in a row for the second time this season.
Jarrett Jack has played starter minutes his entire NBA career. That is, until an early season trade which sent him from Canada to the Crescent City. Jack is now a backup point guard to Chris Paul. The adjustment for Jack has taken time, but he's beginning to shine.