NEW ORLEANS — In the days after the Hornets’ Game 2 loss to Denver, coach Byron Scott reminded his players about the previous postseason. The No. 2-seeded Hornets were up 2-0 in the Western Conference semifinals, but lost Games 3-4 in San Antonio (and eventually the series). Why couldn’t these Hornets do what the Spurs did?
Well, today was a start. The Hornets beat the Nuggets 95-93 at New Orleans Arena in an matchup as heated as a New Orleans summer day.
With 1:23 left, and Denver down eight, Carmelo Anthony hit a smooth 3-pointer from the left wing, cutting the lead to five. The Hornets then committed a shot-clock violation, and Kenyon Martin, fouled on the other end, made both free throws to make it 94-91.
Peja Stojakovic missed a 3-pointer and Chauncey Billups was fouled with 25.6 second left. He made both, as well to pull within 94-93. And on an inbounds, James Posey’s pass was tipped by Anthony to Linas Kleiza, so with 17.1 seconds left.
However, Anthony had his pass to Kenyon Martin swatted away, but Anthony regained control of the ball and missed a turnaround jumper in the paint. Posey, the rebounder, made the first free throw and missed the second. Without a timeout, Anthony launched a desperation shot from near halfcourt, which bounced off the rim at the buzzer.
The Nuggets struggled shooting from the field (40.5) and from the line (68.6). And Billups, who had point totals of 36 and 31 in the first two games, scored just 16 on 3-for-10 shooting, a lackluster game for Denver’s all-star guard. The fans continuously booed Billups, similar to the way the Denver fans booed Chris Paul like he was a Raider-loving Cornhusker.
As for Paul, the Hornets’ motor, played his best game of the series, exploding for 32 points and 12 assists, both game-highs.
Anthony scored 25 on 10-for-24 shooting.
In the history of the seven-game series in the NBA, only 14 times has a team gone up 2-0 and lost the series (203-14). Game 4 is Monday at 6:30 p.m. and Game 5 will be Wednesday in Denver, with the game time to be announced.
In the first quarter today, the Nuggets actually jumped out to a 22-6 lead, making one wonder if this thing would be over in 12 minutes. But the Hornets swarmed back into the game, thanks in part to Posey, who later strained his right knee but continued to play. By the half, the Hornets had a 50-47 lead, and at that point, Posey had 12 points and Paul had 16 points and seven assists.
Emotions were boiling all day. Anthony even got into occasional shouting matches with hip-hop superstar Lil’ Wayne, the New Orleans native, who sat baseline. Dahntay Jones, the Nuggets gnat, battled Paul all day, seldom backing down, often bumping bodies with the all-star.
In the third, Jones broke up an alley-oop to Tyson Chandler, and on the other end, Jones went up for a layup and Chandler pushed him hard, earning a flagrant foul.
Also in the third, Chandler bulldozed Anthony and was called for an offensive foul. Anthony bounced up and visibly gritted his teeth, proceeding to splash a jumper on the other end.
With 59.8 seconds left, Posey threw Chris Andersen to the floor on a layup attempt, earning a technical foul. Moments prior, Paul had a similar play and no flagrant was called on Denver. Coach Scott went berserk. He thundered at official Bennett Salvatore, earning a technical foul, before Rasual Butler and a couple coaches pulled Scott away.
And then in the fourth, Billups earned a flagrant foul, as well, for bumping Butler into the front row on a layup attempt. It was a play indicative of the series.
Benjamin Hochman: 303-954-1294 or bhochman@denverpost.com
