Sports | NBA Hornets Clinch Playoff Spot Become the first Western Conference team to clinch a playoff berth By Lev Weinstein Posted Apr 5, 2008 12:04 AM CDT Copied New Orleans Hornets center Tyson Chandler, right, pulls down a rebound against New York Knicks forward Zach Randolph, left, during the second quarter of a basketball game in New Orleans. ((AP Photo/Ann Heisenfelt)) Chris Paul had 33 points and 15 assists, and the New Orleans Hornets became the first Western Conference team to clinch a playoff berth by beating the New York Knicks 118-110 on Friday night. Jamal Crawford had 29 points for the Knicks, who have lost 17 of 19 but stayed competitive into the fourth quarter. The Hornets trailed 95-91 with 10:20 left before putting away the game with a 26-9 run, getting 12 points from Peja Stojakovic during that spurt. Stojakovic finished with 22 points and David West added 17 for the Hornets, who won their 10th in a row at home. They were coming off a season-high, six-game road trip in which they went 5-1. Read These Next Viking Cruises likes to say no. It's paid off. She was born at a McDonald's, so obviously this is her nickname. Two Powerball players have a lot of financial planning to do. Trump may be targeting this city next due to a misleading news report. Report an error