2008 NBA New Orleans Hornets at Denver Nuggets, November 27, 2008, CP3 Leads Hornets in the Clutch
NOH 105, DEN 101 – Chris Paul led the New Orleans Hornets to another impressive win, building on the momentum they had gained the previous season. The addition of James Posey, a veteran with two championship rings, was intended to push the team even further in their quest for success. On Thursday night, the plan seemed to be working, as Paul took control in the final minutes and Posey hit the go-ahead 3-pointer with 19.1 seconds remaining, sealing a 105-101 victory over the Denver Nuggets, marking the Hornets’ fourth straight win.
Player of the game:
Chris Paul: 22 PTS, 7-13 FGM, 54 FG%, 2-3 3PM, 6-6 FTM, 4 REB, 10 AST, 3 STL
Paul was the driving force for New Orleans, finishing the game with 22 points and 10 assists, though he fell short of his third consecutive triple-double by six rebounds. His late-game heroics included scoring seven straight points and hitting a deep 3-pointer to tie the game at 92 with just over two minutes remaining. Posey’s clutch 3-pointer from the right corner ultimately gave the Hornets the lead for good after Carmelo Anthony’s dunk had tied the game at 98.
Despite a season-high 32 points from J.R. Smith, the Nuggets couldn’t keep pace. Denver, led by Chauncey Billups and Anthony, made a late push but failed to close out the game, with Billups missing a critical 3-pointer in the final seconds. New Orleans capitalized on Denver’s mistakes, including a technical foul on Kenyon Martin, to extend their lead and secure the win. The Hornets were missing key players like Mo Peterson and Tyson Chandler but had the advantage of extra rest, having not played since Monday, while Denver had come off a grueling 1-point win in Los Angeles the night before.
