New Orleans, LA (Sports Network) – Chris Paul finished one rebound short of a triple-double, scoring 28 points with 10 assists and nine rebounds, as the New Orleans Hornets clinched their third postseason berth in four years with a 101-93 victory over Houston.
Trevor Ariza finished with 19 points, five rebounds and a season-high six steals, while Emeka Okafor added 11 points for the Hornets, who yielded a season-high 38 first-quarter points and trailed by 17 before mounting a comeback.
New Orleans is tied with Portland for the sixth position in the Western Conference playoff race, one game in front of Memphis. The Hornets have four games remaining following their third victory in four games.
Kevin Martin scored 21 points, Luis Scola and Goran Dragic added 16 apiece and Chase Budinger donated 12 points for Houston, which dropped its second straight game.