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Monster Mash Hornets' forward hits winning shot with 0:01 left in OTPosted: Friday February 21, 2003 11:53 PMUpdated: Saturday February 22, 2003 1:25 AM
NEW ORLEANS (AP) -- With the way Jamal Mashburn was shooting, he was bound to hit a game-winning shot if he got enough chances. After missing one at the end of regulation, Mashburn ended a 50-point performance by grabbing his own rebound and sinking a short jumper with 1 second left in overtime, giving the New Orleans Hornets a 125-123 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies on Friday night. "I pretty much decided I was going to take the last shot. I wasn't going to pass unless there was dire need," Mashburn said. "My runner was a little long, but it was on-line and it got tipped out and I got the rebound. I just kept it above my head and shot it. It was fun." In tying his career high and setting a franchise record for points in a game, Mashburn shot 17-of-33 and hit all 12 of his foul shots.
Mashburn hit a 3-pointer in overtime to tie the game at 117 and a pair of free throws that gave New Orleans a 123-121 lead in the final minute. Jason Williams tied the game at 123 with an off-balance layup before Mashburn's final shot. Memphis then inbounded along the sideline to 3-point specialist Wesley Person, but his rushed shot from the corner was long. The Hornets' victory spoiled a strong Grizzlies debut for Mike Miller, who came off the bench to lead Memphis with 23 points, including a spinning baseline move on a lay-in that tied the game at 114 in overtime. "He's going to have a great career with us," Memphis coach Hubie Brown said. "For a guy who just ran through the plays this morning ... he was terrific. He's going to make us a better team because as you can see, on the open floor, he does so many great things that we didn't have. A guy that big who can run like that and then put the ball down on the floor and finish -- he's a great finisher." Miller said he just had to play with a lot of instinct, "but that's how the game of basketball is supposed to be played." David Wesley scored 35 points, his most as a Hornet. Jamaal Magloire had 20 points and 15 rebounds as the Hornets finished with a 37-28 rebounding advantage. Four New Orleans players combined for 123 of their 125 points. Jerome Moiso had the other two. "We were fortunate to pull out this game," said P.J. Brown. "We're going to need contributions from everybody to keep this thing afloat, but tonight was just an off night for the bench and fortunately a great night for the starters." Brown got the best of his matchup with 20-year-old Pau Gasol. Both scored 18, but Brown, who came in second in the NBA in field goal percentage (53 percent), shot 9-of-12 while Gasol was 7-of-16. In addition to Miller, who fouled out in the final minute of overtime, Stromile Swift was strong off the bench for Memphis, scoring 14. Person scored 19 for Memphis, going 4-of-5 on 3-pointers. Lorenzen Wright added 16 and Williams 12 as the Grizzlies shot nearly 58 percent. New Orleans, which shot almost 55 percent, appeared to have the game in hand in regulation. Mashburn hit a pair of free throws with 26 seconds left to put the Hornets up 112-109, and Williams' attempted 3-pointer went long. But the rebound bounced through Mashburn's hands and was kicked back out to Person, who threw up a 3 that bounced around the rim before falling in. Mashburn had one more shot to win it in the fourth quarter but missed a mid-range turnaround jumper. Notes: The timing of Miller's trade to Memphis meant he was playing his second game in a row against New Orleans. His last game with the Magic was against the Hornets in Orlando on Tuesday night. ... Memphis reserve guard Michael Dickerson left the game with an abdominal strain in the second quarter.
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