West Hits Game Winner As Hornets Sting Cavaliers 100-99

David West hit an outside shot with 0.6 left to play, and the New Orleans Hornets slipped past the Cleveland Cavaliers Wednesday night. Cleveland shot 50% (41-82) from the floor for the game, and had two starters with double-doubles, but still lost. New Orleans shot a relatively modest 43.8% (35-80) from the field, but made for it from behind the arc as they shot 50% (11-22) for the game. The win was the fifth straight for New Orleans.

The Hornets dominated the first half of this contest, Cleveland attempted to take the game back during the second half but fell just short. New Orleans took a slim lead at the end of the first quarter 25-23. They extended it to 56-50 as the game reached the half. The Hornets appeared like they were about to run away with the game when Mo Peterson hit a trey with 5:50 remaining in the third quarter putting New Orleans up 66-57. The Cavaliers closed the quarter with a 14-7 run to pull within 2 points at the end of the third as they were down 73-71. Joe smith made a layup with 10:45 remaining to put Cleveland up 74-73, but the lead was short lived. The lead went back and forth throughout the quarter, and then with 7 seconds left LeBron James drove the lane and put it up and in giving the Cavaliers a 99-98 lead. But the crowd at the Q went home heart broken after West hit his game winning shot.

The Hornets were led by Peja Stojakovic who scored 25 points, 3 rebounds, 2 steals, 1 assist, in the New Orleans victory. David West scored 20 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 block, Chris Paul did it again scoring 15 points, 20 assists, 3 rebounds, 2 steals, 1 block. Tyson Chandler also recorded a double-double with 13 points, 11 boards, 1 block, 1 steal, Jannero Pargo scored 13 points, off the bench 4 rebounds, 1 assist.

Zydrunas Ilgauskas led Cleveland with a double-double, a game high 29 points, 15 boards, 3 assists, 2 blocks. LBJ scored 21 points, 8 assists, 3 rebounds, 2 steals, 2 blocks, Anderson Varejao starting for the injured Ben Wallace scored 11 points, 15 rebounds, 1 block. Sasha Pavlovic scored 10 points, 2 assists, 1 rebound. The Hornets now sit at 49-21, Cleveland is 40-32.