Apr

15

Hornets Clinch Division, Sting Clippers 114-92

Posted by Stephen Rhodes under Main 

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You knew it would happen; not so much a matter of if it would happen, but when it would happen.? The event in question?? The New Orleans Hornets clinching the Southwest Division, that’s what.? Fortunately for the Hornets on Tuesday, their opponent was the lowly Los Angeles Clippers.? The Hornets just went out there and do what they do best - provide explosive offense when needed and apply stifling defense.? The Hornets shot 50.6% while holding the Clippers to 47.2% while committing only 5 turnovers; the end result being a convincing 114-92 over the Clippers at New Orleans Arena.? The victory guaranteed the Hornets at least the #2 seed in the Western Conference playoffs.

It got interesting early as New Orleans’ David West scored 20 points in the first quarter but got little help from his teammates as they went into halftime behind 51-49; after trailing 56-51 courtesy of Los Angeles’ Cuttino Mobley’s 3-pointer early in the third quarter, the Hornets scored 12 of the next 14 points to take the lead for good, then managed to pull away quickly.? New Orleans led by at least 12?points and poured it on in the fourth quarter, leading by as much as 31 at one point.? New Orleans’ leading scorer was West with 32 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists and a steal while Chris Paul scored 22 with 4 rebounds, 12 assists, 2 steals and a block.

Los Angeles was led by Al Thornton with 26 points, 5 rebounds and 3 assists while from off the bench, Corey Maggette scored 13 with 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals and a block.? New Orleans (56-25) play their season finale on Wednesday as they visit Dallas to take on the Mavericks while Los Angeles (23-58) makes the short trip to Houston to face the Rockets - also on Wednesday.



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