Basketball - Hornets Defeat Hawks And Close In To The

Recently the New Orleans Hornets played Atlanta Hawks and the Hawks had no answer to the Hornets barrage. Hornets’ Chris Paul scored 24 points, 13 of them in the fourth quarter, and Tyson Chandler supported him with 18 points and 13 rebounds. The Hornets won 107-100. Hornets played like a team and Devin Brown chipped in with 19 points and David West scored 17 points.

Before this game, the Hornets were half game behind the Los Angeles Clippers, who along with the Hornets were in contention for the last playoff spot in the Western Conference.

The Hornets completely outscored the Hawks 30-12 at the free throw line and they ensured their victory by going 7 of 8 in the last 32 seconds of the game. Hawks Joe Johnson scored 27 points and Josh Smith had 17 points and 9 rebounds. In the last 14 seconds of the game Salim Stoudamire scored a 3 pointer and got the Hawks close to the Hornets with the score standing at 103-100. However, Paul immediately scored 2 three pointers to take the game away from the Hawks completely.

At halftime, the Hornets led by nine points. However, the Hawks did not allow Hornets to that well in the third quarter. The Hawks just managed to score five field goals during the third quarter while Joe Johnson of the Hawks scored the 11 points in the third quarter and for a brief moment the Hawks were actually leading by one point.

After this game, the Hornets are extremely excited as they might reach the playoffs. It would be a big boost to the team that has made Oklahoma City its temporary abode after Hurricane Katrina struck New Orleans. The Hornets are all ready to return full time to New Orleans next season.