Hornets clinch playoff spot in West

NEW ORLEANS -- Chris Paul took control down the stretch and carried the New Orleans Hornets into the playoffs.

Paul had 33 points and 15 assists, and the Hornets became the first team in the Western Conference to clinch a playoff berth, beating the New York Knicks, 118-110, Friday night.

New Orleans (53-22) never has been better than fourth-seeded in the playoffs.

“It’s a great feeling,” Paul said. “It’s my third year in the league, and I’ve never been to the playoffs, but we finally did it. Now the hard work begins.”

Paul asserted himself the most when the Hornets fell behind, scoring 13 points in the last 5 minutes 15 seconds of the first half and making several key plays when they fell behind by four in the fourth quarter.

“He turned it around for us,” New Orleans Coach Byron Scott said. “He got more aggressive, and his will to win the game and take it upon himself to ensure the victory is probably the biggest thing that happened tonight.”

Jamal Crawford had 29 points and nine assists for the Knicks (20-56), who have lost 17 of 19 but stayed competitive through three quarters. 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.