NBA Game Summary - New Orleans at Washington

Washington, DC (Basketball News) - Baron Davis scored a game-high 26 points to lead New Orleans to a 94-78 win over Washington in the regular-season finale at MCI Center.

Jamaal Magloire netted 23 points and grabbed 14 rebounds for the Hornets, who ended the regular season with a 41-41 mark and won three of their last four games. New Orleans will enter the Eastern Conference playoffs as the fifth seed by virtue of a Milwaukee loss and will face Miami in the opening round of the playoffs. The Heat won the season series from the Hornets, 3-1.

"We have a golden opportunity to do something special," said Davis. "A best- of-seven games is going to give us the confidence that we can go in and know we can beat someone."

Etan Thomas had 16 points and Jarvis Hayes contributed 15 for the Wizards, who lost their final three games and ended the season 25-57. Jared Jeffries added 13 points and 11 boards in the loss.

New Orleans led 24-20 after the first quarter and increased the margin to 34-24 on Robert Traylor’s basket early in the second. The Hornets continued to pour it on and stretched the advantage to 20 points at 52-32 on David Wesley’s bucket with just under three minutes left in the half. New Orleans eventually carried a commanding 57-39 cushion into the intermission.

Davis netted 14 points, while Hayes scored 11 for the Wizards in the opening 24 minutes.

"It’s a good time of the year," New Orleans head coach Tim Floyd said. "I’m pleased that we did win our last two on the road. Baron looked better tonight than he was the last game, which is the way it should be. I thought he played inspired and he played hard."

Jeffries’ basket early in the third quarter brought Washington within 60-47 and the Wizards got as close as 11 points in the frame. However, New Orleans headed to the fourth period with a 72-59 lead.

The Hornets quickly widened their advantage back to 20 in the fourth quarter as Davis’ basket with around seven minutes left staked New Orleans to an 85-65 lead. The margin grew to 23 points moments later and the Hornets cruised to the blowout win.