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There’s one thing that the New Orleans Hornets can say that they’re guilty of: Falling behind early in games.

That would certainly be the case as they took on the Houston Rockets at Toyota Center on Friday night. Down by 16 in the third, New Orleans, behind David West, managed to rally and defeat Houston in overtime 110-105.

Kevin Martin, back after missing two games with a sore right wrist, sank a 3-pointer and Kyle Lowry scored twice in the lane to help the Rockets take a seven-point lead. They would proceed to go six minutes without a basket in the second quarter and the Hornets tied the game at 37.

Jarrett Jack assisted on Trevor Ariza’s fast-break dunk, then drained a three-pointer to put New Orleans up and would lead at the intermission 50-47.

With the Rockets up by 16, West made two free throws and Jack converted a layup on a Jared Jeffries goaltending call before the end of the third quarter, starting a 14-0 Hornets run.

New Orleans finally tied the game at 91 with 1:16 left in regulation; Lowry’s two free throws broke the tie, but West drove past Jeffries for the dunk.

Martin drained a jumper, West made a pair of free throws and Lowry would miss an off-balance jumper, sending the game into overtime.

Ariza hit a 3-pointer two minutes into the extra period to put the Hornets ahead 100-99; Shane Battier replied with a 3 of his own, but Chris Paul scored on a drive and then hit a jumper to put New Orleans ahead for good.

West led all Hornets scorers with a game-high 29 points, along with 9 rebounds, a steal and a block but committed 7 turnovers while Jack came off the bench to add 23 with 3 rebounds and 7 assists. Emeka Okafor notched a double-double, scoring 17 with 15 rebounds, an assist and a block while Ariza chipped in 14 with 10 rebounds, 2 assists and a steal.

The Rockets were led by Lowry with 28 points, along with 6 rebounds, 7 assists and 3 steals while Martin added 26 (including three 3-pointers) with a rebound, 3 assists and 3 steals. Luis Scola chipped in 14 with 11 rebounds, an assist and 2 blocks.

Both teams return to action on Saturday night when New Orleans (24-16) looks to win their fourth straight game as they travel to Charlotte to take on the Bobcats while Houston (17-23) flies east to Atlanta to take on the Hawks.