In the Lane: February 8, 2008
HISTORIC SEASON ADDS AN INSTANT CLASSIC
First, there was the best team in the western conference, the Suns, hosting last week’s best team in the western conference, the Hornets.
Second, there was the blockbuster trade between Phoenix and Miami, netting the Suns’ behemoth center Shaquille O’Neal and creating instant controversy among basketball fans in the Valley of the Sun.
Third, the two best point guards in the NBA were meeting for the third time this season. Two-time MVP Steve Nash, one day shy of his 34th birthday, hosted first time all-star Chris Paul, at 22 mature and talented beyond his years.
So fans from Arizona to Louisiana hardly needed more reasons to plan their evening around the television or radio.
But more reasons they got.
REASON #1
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REASON #2
The Hornets were down six points with 6:33 to play in the first half when Chris Paul once again went to work. He scored nine points in the next four and half minutes, extended his steals streak to 50-consecutive games, and guided the Bees to an eight-point lead at halftime.
REASON #3
Chris Paul had two more double figure quarters, 10 in the 3rd and 11 more in the 4th to finish regulation with 40 points. It was his third 40+ point game of the season. He fell one point shy of his career-high 43.
REASON #4
Peja Stojakovic’s 14-foot jumper with 11.9 seconds remaining danced around the rim and tied the game at 111-111 to send the game into the 1st overtime.
REASON #5
Jannero Pargo (i.e. “The Iceman”) connected on a pair of field goals and all four of his free throws in the 1st overtime scoring eight of the 13 Hornets points to keep the Bees in the game.
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With the Hornets ahead by four points with 11.6 seconds remaining reserve guard Leandro Barbosa delivered a deep three pointer (26-footer) to close the gap to one point (122-121).
REASON #7
After two Pargo free throws and Phoenix’s 20-second time out two-time NBA most valuable player Steve Nash inexplicably gets free for a game-tying three pointer with 8.2 seconds remaining as the first overtime comes to an end (124-124).
REASON #8
Raja Bell’s three pointer with 2:42 to go in the 2nd overtime gave Phoenix a 127-126 lead. Jannero Pargo’s jumper with 2:20 remaining allowed the Hornets to re-take the lead and his two free throws with 14.8 seconds left made it 130-127.
REASON #9
Following Amare Stoudamire’s missed three pointer with 8.9 seconds on the clock, Grant Hill rebounded the ball, passed to Leandro Barbosa. With 3.2 seconds left, the “Brazilian Blur” fires in his second overtime trey to tie the game at 130-130.
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After the Hornets timeout Bobby Jackson inbounded the ball to Peja Stojakovic who fades, fires, and sinks the game-winning 22-footer as time expires to clinch the Hornets third victory of the season against Phoenix, 132-130.
I haven’t even mentioned Chris Paul’s career-high eight steals or Steve Nash’s improbable triple double (32 points, 12 assists, and 10 turnovers), or Paul’s line (40 points, 9 assists, 8 steals) to make him the first player to do it since Michael Jordan in 1989.
I didn’t even reveal that the 132 points scored by the winners was the 5th-most ever by a Hornets team, or that the win extended the Hornets’ NBA-record overtime winning streak to 13 in a row.
Wednesday, February 6, 2008 is the date the Phoenix Suns acquired a future Hall-of-Fame center; but it is now in the Hornets archives as one of the most exciting regular season games ever.
The New York Giants celebrated Super Sunday. Hilary Clinton, Barak Obama, and John McCain celebrated Super Tuesday. And the Hornets celebrated a very Super Wednesday with an entertaining and crucial western conference double overtime victory.
This Hornets season has been defined by history- making players and events…why not add one of the greatest games to the franchise’s 20-year history?
