Hornets sting Knicks playoff chances with OT win

Desmond Mason and Chris Paul combined to score all 11 New Orleans/Oklahoma City points in the extra session as the Hornets limited New York to just an Eddy Curry layup.

Mason finished with 19 points and Paul had 16 points, seven rebound and six assists for the Hornets, who moved within 2 1/2 games of the Clippers for the eighth playoff spot in the Western Conference.

Tyson Chandler ended with 13 points and 13 rebounds for the Hornets.

Curry poured in a game-high 34 points to go along with 13 boards for the Knicks, who fell three games behind the Nets for the last playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.

After Jannero Pargo’s three-pointer pushed the Hornets’ lead to 88-77 with just under four minutes remaining, New York ripped off 12 straight points, capped by a Nate Robinson trey, to take a 89-88 lead with 1:14 remaining.

After Free throws by Mason and Paul put the Hornets back in front, 92-89, with 17.6 seconds left, Robinson nailed a rainbow three with 10 seconds left on the clock to tie the game. The Hornets had one last chance to win it in regulation, but West’s three-point attempt at the buzzer was short.

Mason opened the overtime period up with a jumper and Paul followed with a trey that quickly put the Hornets up 97-92. Curry’s basket brought New York within three, but the Knicks were unable to get closer.

Stephon Marbury drove to the basket on New York’s next possession only to be rejected by Chandler. Then, after a missed three by Robinson, Paul hit a jumper and Mason threw down a thunderous dunk to make it 101-94 and ice the game with 43.7 seconds remaining.

Trailing 23-19 after the first quarter, a Bobby Jackson three sparked a 13-2 Hornets’ run in the second quarter that put them up five, 34-29, with six minutes left in the half.

After a pair of Mardy Collins free throws made it 40-36 with 3:26 left in the second quarter, the Hornets closed the first half out with an 11-1 run to take a 51-37 advantage into the locker room. New Orleans/Oklahoma City took a 72-63 lead into the final quarter.

Game Notes

Marbury ended with 16 points, eight rebounds and five assists for New York, while Robinson contributed 14 points...Pargo and Jackson each had 12 points off the bench for the Hornets.