Bobcats make history, reach play-offs for the first time.
Six years after their creation, the Charlotte Bobcats finally secured their first play-off appearance after beating the New Orleans Hornets 104-103.
The win has ensured the franchise will finish the season with a winning record, another first for the young team. The win also means Michael Jordan, who acquired control of the team last month, will have his team in the play-offs in his first few months of ownership.
Stephen Jackson scored 29 points for Charlotte, which blew a 26-point lead and trailed by as much as eight in the fourth quarter, something head coach Larry Brown was upset with.
"I'm not a happy man, I'm happy for our fans. I'm happy for our franchise. I'm a coach. I always say, 'Celebrate the wins because the losses hurt.' That [performance] hurt,” Brown said.
Tyson Chandler had 16 points, 10 rebounds and five blocked shots in his return to New Orleans for the first time since being traded to Charlotte in exchange for Emeka Okafor. Okafor had seven points and nine rebounds.
“It definitely feels good, it felt like coming back home, honestly. A lot of familiar faces in the stands. Obviously familiar faces on the other side. It was good to come back and get a win.
"I'm starting to feel like my old self," the seven-foot-one centre added. "I went through the season recovering from last season's injuries. Now I'm starting to feel like I'm one hundred per cent,” said Chandler.
The Bobcats fans will enjoy the victory over the Hornets even more, considering the fact the Hornets used to play as the Charlotte Hornets up until 2002 when they moved to New Orleans.
If the season finished today the Bobcats would face the Orlando Magic in the first round of the play-offs - a daunting task for any side. The Bobcats will need more nights like Chandler produced and they will need Gerald Wallace to produce his pre all-star game form if they have a hope of advancing to the second round.
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