Hornets Roll Past Clippers to Clinch Southwest Division

Rookie Thornton scores 26 in loss
By Jesse Andrews,  Newser Staff
Posted Apr 15, 2008 9:55 PM CDT
Hornets Roll Past Clippers to Clinch Southwest Division
New Orleans Hornets forward David West (30) shoots over Los Angeles Clippers forward Al Thornton (12) during the first half of their NBA basketball game in New Orleans on Tuesday, April 15, 2008.    (AP Photo/Sean Gardner)

David West scored 32 and Chris Paul had 12 during a decisive run in the third quarter as the New Orleans Hornets clinched the Southwest Division by beating the Los Angeles Clippers 114-92 on Tuesday night. The Hornets will have at least the No. 2 seed in the playoffs in the rugged Western Conference.

Hornets coach Byron Scott earned his 300th career victory. The Hornets finished 30-11 at home for the third time in franchise history. The club record is 32-9, set in 1997-98. After losing three of its last four, New Orleans struggled for a half against the reeling Clippers before putting them away with 26-6 spurt in the third quarter. The Clippers are 4-25 in their last 29 games. (More basketball stories.)

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