NEW YORK — The New Orleans Hornets found a
way to cool off the red-hot Boston Celtics on Saturday, coming
from behind the beat the team with the best record in the NBA
113-106.
The Celtics came into New Orleans having
just completed a sweep of three games in Texas that made them
the first team to take all three from the San Antonio Spurs,
Houston Rockets and Dallas Mavericks on the same trip in seven
years. But they blew an early 15-point lead and fell to the
young and talented Hornets, the leaders of the Southwest
Division.
"We know they were coming in hot," Hornet
David West said after scoring 37 points in his team’s ninth
straight home victory.
"They beat all three Texas teams. We just
wanted to play hard tonight."
Boston started its five-game road trip with
a win in Milwaukee and swept through Texas before jumping to
their big lead on Saturday. But the Celtics turned the ball
over 21 times, leading to 32 New Orleans points and Boston’s
loss dropped their record to 55-14.
"Tonight it was just turnovers," said
Celtics coach Doc Rivers. "We were really careless with the
ball. They played harder, played with more energy and they
deserved to win."
The win moved the Hornets to one-half game
behind the idle Los Angeles Lakers for the Western Conference
lead.
New Orleans Most Valuable Player candidate
Chris Paul was limited to 29 minutes because of foul trouble
but was there at the end with two big baskets to finish with
19 points. While he was out, his replacement Jannero Pargo
became a key to the victory. Pargo had 15 points and six
assists in 21 minutes.
Paul Pierce scored 16 of his 28 points in
the first quarter, Rajon Rondo contributed 23 and Kevin
Garnett 19 points and 12 rebounds for Boston.
The teams meet again on Friday in Boston (Saturday in
Manila).
