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If you’re the New Orleans Hornets and you’re minus your top player, Chris Paul, the first thing you think is: “We’re doomed!” A normal thought typically.

Apparently, the Hornets aren’t your typical team.

Paul’s replacement, Darren Collison, acquitted himself well while Emeka Okafor scored 19 second-half points, helping New Orleans rally from 21 down to defeat Memphis at FedEx Forum in overtime Saturday 109-102.

The first quarter was all Grizzlies as they would build a double-digit lead at 24-14 on a Zach Randolph jumper and would go into the second quarter up 33-18. A Julian Wright tip-in would put the Hornets to within ten, but Rudy Gay’s jumper with 45 seconds left in the first half would give Memphis a 61-42 lead.

New Orleans made a run at the Grizzlies to begin the second half as an Okafor dunk cut Memphis’ lead to 75-66 and Darius Songaila’s tip-in brought them to within 75-68. The Hornets were 14-of-16 in the period, helping them reduce their deficit to 81-76 going into the fourth quarter. Songaila’s bucket in the paint allowed New Orleans to tie things up at 85-all. A pair of Gay free throws put the Grizzlies up 97-93, but a Peja Stojakovic three-pointer and an Okafor free throw enabled the Hornets to tie things up at 97 as both teams went into overtime.

After the Grizzlies’ Jamaal Tinsley scored the opening basket of the extra period, the Hornets would score the next six points as a pair of free throws each by Stojakovic and David West were sandwiched around a Collison jumper. That would put New Orleans ahead 103-99, but Randolph would score, bringing Memphis to within two; the Grizzlies wouldn’t score again as the Hornets would score the final six points, including a Collison steal and dunk with 24 seconds left.

Three Hornets players scored at least 20 points, led by West wth 22 points, 4 rebounds, 2 steals and a block while Okafor added 21 with 10 rebounds, 2 steals and 2 blocks; Stojakovic chipped in 20 (including three treys) with 5 rebounds, 2 assists and a steal while Collison scored 17 with 6 rebounds, a career-high 18 assists and a block.

Randolph and Marc Gasol shared scoring honors for the Grizzlies with 25 points apiece – with Randolph grabbing 12 rebounds, dishing out 5 assists along with a steal while Gasol grabbed 16 boards, dished out an assist along with 3 steals and 2 blocks; O.J. Mayo added 17 with 8 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals.

New Orleans (26-21) plays again on Monday when they return home to host the Phoenix Suns while Memphis (25-21) remains at home to host the Los Angeles Lakers – also on Monday night.