Most of you probably saw this game on national TV. It was a HUGE win for the Hornets that almost got away. The Hornets dominated from start to finish, building a lead that reached 11 points at least twice. We were up by 11 with about a minute and a half left in the first half, when the Raptors scored the last 7 points of the half. It was a sad way to end, but we were still up 40-36. The game was fought hard by both teams, similar to a playoff atmosphere. PJ got in early foul trouble (thanks to a phantom call against Morris Peterson on the first possession), but he contributed on the glass. Basically Elden Campbell kept us rolling with some timely jumpers and overall abuse on Eric Montross. Our 10 first half turnovers kept the game close though, as Toronto hit a run right at the end of the half to close it to 4 points. The second half we had no answer for Antonio Davis. He was pulling moves off that I didn't know he was capable of. The 6' 11" burly forward once threw a head fake and went reverse for the layup like a guard would do. He was clearly a man on a mission, with Vince Carter and Jerome Williams out for the game. The Hornets played well enough for a double digit win, but this game went down to the wire thanks to some key offensive rebounding by the Raptors and some "questionable" calls by the refs (I know, don't make excuses). Seriously though, any of you guys who watched the game must have seen Baron drive all night and not get a single call, while any time the Raptors lost the ball it was an immediate foul. That's the way things go in the NBA though, especially on the road. Things came to a head in the fourth quarter, as the Raps built a 76-70 lead with about 4 minutes left. I was so frustrated that the remote slammed the floor. I thought for sure we were going to lose, and the Air Canada Center was rocking. Baron hits a nice 20 footer. A stop and defensive rebound (FINALLY), and Jamal gets fouled. He hits both and we are only down two. Another stop (thank God), and Jamal gets the ball in the post again. He fakes left for his patented fade-away, and drives to the middle with a beautiful finger roll. Tie game. ANOTHER stop (the Hornets are an underrated defensive team), and we give Jamal the ball in the left post again. This time he takes the fadeaway, just over Mo Pete's outstretched hand. Nothing but net. The crowd is silent. Mash had been off all game, but hits the biggest shots of the game. He's finally back, and he's healthy. Toronto goes in and gets fouled, but only make 1 of 2 with less than 30 sec on the clock.
We run the time all the way down and Nailon bricks a wide open 20 footer (he was off all game too). Toronto boards and calls TO to set up for the final play. It's 5 sec to go and one-on-one Alvin Williams vs. Baron. Baron forces him into a fadeaway 21 footer that falls harmlessly off the rim and the Hornets go above the .500 mark for the first time since they were 2-1. They survive an awesome game by Antonio Davis with 29 points and 14 rebounds to beat their Central Division rival. Since the Pistons and Bucks both won, the Hornets are still 3.5 games out of first place. Plenty of time left.
