New Orleans Hornets launch a vociferous surge down the stretch to topple the Dallas Mavericks 93-92
New Orleans Hornet romped with 8-0 run in the defining moments of the final quarter to bowl over the mighty Dallas Mavericks at New Orleans Arena on Wednesday night. Jarret Jack was the man who made it all happen in the last ditch
seconds.
After Marco Belinelli and Emeka Okafor combined for 5 points to bring the Hornets back into the game, Jack made his move. Playing as a replacement for the injured swingman Chris Paul, he showed nerves of steel in the clutch and
landed three decisive free throws to give his team a one point lead.
In a scramble that followed, Dirk Nowitzki missed a game-winning jumper as the Hornets held on to a win.
Dirk Nowitzki finished with a game-high 26 points while Tyson Chandler fetched a double-double with 16 points and 13 rebounds. Chandler however drained two shots from the charity stripe with 17 seconds left, which could have virtually
sealed the game for the Mavs. Nevertheless, the duo guided the visiting team to a comprehensive 92-85 advantage with less than 1 minute remaining in the final buzzer. Dallas coach Rick Carlisle was disappointed with the collapse in the final minute and said,
"You've got to make a stop. By putting them on the free-throw line, they're shooting free throws with the clock stopped and it keeps them in the game. Credit them for making plays and we did not."
The night instigated with Dallas’s domination as they kicked off with a 12-4 run in the preliminary minutes of the first quarter. Rodrigue Beaubois scored his 7 points of total 9 in the first period to provide the visiting team
an early edge. However David West and Marco Belinelli lifted the momentum for the home team to end the period with a bracing 16-16 tie.
Carl Landry took the charge stoutly in the second quarter with back to back blistering blows as the home team nipped the advantage 26-23 in the initial four minutes. Nowitzki swiftly escalated the momentum with his belligerent
charisma on the court and snatched back the lead for the Mavs at 32-30. In the ensuing passage of play, the mercurial power forward was ably supported by Jose Barea as Dallas extended their lead to 41-34. Belinelli however staged a comeback for the Hornets
at that point and came up with successive 3-pointers just before the halftime to cut down the deficit 46-43.
New Orleans strived to gain the initiative early in the third quarter but were left wandering infront of the might of Chandler and Nowitzki. The visiting team restricted the opposition to 17 points as Jason Terry assailed with
dazzling 3-pointers one after the other to spearhead his team with 10 points advantage into the final quarter.
Although Dallas Mavericks sustained their momentum going into the fourth quarter, the Hornets gradually started to make their life difficult. Nowitzki though proved to be the difference between the two teams and his impressive
array of 10 points i put Mavericks on the vanguard, leading with 92-85 just before the final buzzer.
What followed was a bout of offensive artistry from the New Orleans in the defining moments of the game. With 52 seconds to go Belinelli banged a ripper from downtown to start a run, which put the game upside down. The rest as
they was history as the Hornets crossed the line with a single point advantage.
New Orleans Hornet escalated an exciting turnaround opposing the best team of the Western Conference. Both the teams are marching forwards towards the playoff however Orleans need to ensure their seventh spot in order to qualify
for the upcoming showdown.
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