Paul leads Hornets' upset win over Lakers
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Los Angeles Lakers Kobe Bryant (L) goes up to shoot against New Orleans Hornets Aaron Gray during Game 1 of their NBA Western Conference first round playoff basketball game in Los Angeles, California, April 17, 2011. Lakers lost 100-109. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo) |
Chris Paul had 33 points, 14 assists and seven rebounds to lead the visiting New Orleans Hornets to a stunning 109-100 win over the two-time defending NBA champion Los Angeles Lakers in their playoff opener yesterday.
Carl Landry scored 17 points and Jarrett Jack had 15 for the Hornets, who are seeded seventh in the Western Conference.
New Orleans overcame Los Angeles' major size advantage with a phenomenal game from Paul, who scored 17 points in the fourth quarter and led a late 8-0 run.
Kobe Bryant scored 34 points for the Lakers, who opened the postseason with the same halfhearted effort they displayed at times during the regular season after three straight exhausting trips to the NBA finals.
The Lakers swept the four-game regular-season series with New Orleans. They had also won their last six playoff series openers since Houston beat them in the Western Conference semifinals in 2009 on the way to Bryant's fourth championship.
Grizzlies 101, Spurs 98
In San Antonio, Zach Randolph had 25 points and 14 rebounds and Shane Battier hit the go-ahead 3-pointer with 23.9 seconds remaining to help Memphis win its first-ever playoff game.
Randolph scored nine points in the fourth quarter and punished San Antonio repeatedly under the basket.
The top-seeded Spurs had a chance to force overtime, but Richard Jefferson missed an open 3-pointer as time expired.
Tony Parker led the Spurs with 20 points, but they sorely missed All-Star player Manu Ginobili of Argentina, who continued to rest his sprained right elbow.
The eighth-seeded Grizzlies entered the NBA in 1995 as an expansion team in Vancouver but didn't make it to the playoffs until 2004. They were then swept in the first round for three consecutive years.
Celtics 85, Knicks 84
At Boston, Ray Allen hit a go-ahead 3-pointer with 12 seconds left as the Celtics rallied to beat New York in their playoff opener.
New York led 85-84 before Carmelo Anthony was called for an offensive foul for pushing Paul Pierce with 21 seconds remaining. Allen, who led the Celtics with 24 points, then sank the decisive basket from beyond the left arc.
The Knicks had one more chance to win it, but Anthony missed a long 3-point attempt with 2 seconds left. The star forward went 1 for 11 from the field in the second half.
Amare Stoudemire had 28 points and 11 rebounds for New York, and Anthony finished with 15.
Pierce scored 18 points and Kevin Garnett added 15 points and 13 rebounds for Boston.
The Celtics, who won their NBA-high 17th championship in 2008, are aiming to return to the finals after losing in seven games last year to the Los Angeles Lakers.
The Knicks are in the playoffs for the first time in seven years.
Thunder 107, Nuggets 103
In Oklahoma City, Kevin Durant scored 41 points and Russell Westbrook added 31 as the Thunder pulled out a victory in Game 1 of its first-round playoff series.
Oklahoma City leaned heavily on its two All-Stars, who both scored their most points in the postseason.
Westbrook scored the go-ahead jumper from the right side with 1:06 left. Kenyon Martin then missed a jumper from the left wing before Westbrook struck again to make it 104-101 with 22.4 seconds left.
Raymond Felton missed a 3-pointer with 12 seconds left, and Oklahoma City closed it out at the foul line.
Nene led Denver with 22 points and eight rebounds, and Danilo Gallinari scored 18.
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