Yes indeed!!!!!




New Orleans Hornets stun Miami Heat 96-93 to seal franchise-best 5-0 start
Published: Friday, November 05, 2010, 6:16 PM Updated: Friday, November 05, 2010, 9:50 PM
John Reid, The Times Picayune John Reid, The Times Picayune
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For the first time in franchise history, the New Orleans Hornets are off to a 5-0 start after stunning the Miami Heat 94-93 in front of a sellout crowd Friday night at the New Orleans Arena.

New Orleans Hornets vs. Miami Heat Enlarge Chris Granger, The Times-Picayune CHRIS GRANGER / THE TIMES-PICAYUNE New Orleans Hornets' Chris Paul goes for a score around Miami's Zydrunas Ilgauskas at their game on Friday, November 5, 2010 at the New Orleans Arena. Hornets vs. Heat Friday, Nov. 5, 2010 gallery (11 photos)

* New Orleans Hornets vs. Miami Heat
* New Orleans Hornets vs. Miami Heat
* New Orleans Hornets vs. Miami Heat
* New Orleans Hornets vs. Miami Heat
* New Orleans Hornets vs. Miami Heat

The Heat All-Star trio of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh could not overcome Chris Paul beating them repeatedly in transition and Emeka Okafor dominating the post for a team-high 26 points. Paul had 19 assists and 13 points. When the Heat surged, Trevor Ariza made a crucial 3-pointer with 14 seconds remaining that extended the Hornets' lead to 94-90. Dwyane Wade led the Heat with 28 points. LeBron James had 20 and Chris Bosh finished with 15. New Orleans' victory snapped the Heat's four-game winning streak.
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FOURTH QUARTER

The Hornets have a 44-24 advantage in points scored in the lane. The Hornets defensive pressure has been so stifling that Heat is going to backup Zydrunas Ilgauskas to provide a lift. Dwyane Wade was held to four points in the third quarter. Emeka Okafor has 20 points. With 6:25 remaining, LeBron James still has not scored in the quarter. The Hornets have shot 50 percent or better for the entire game. The Heat close the deficit to 80-77, but Okafor makes another tip-in shot for his 24th point of the game. Nice execution under pressure with Chris Paul working the ball inside to Emeka Okafor, who scores just before the shot clock expires to give the Hornets a 88-85 lead with 2:32 remaining. James' two free throws has put the Heat ahead for the first time in the game 90-89 with 59.8 seconds.

THIRD QUARTER

The Hornets never appear to unravel when a team make a run. The Heat closed to nine behind Chris Bosh's six points, but the Hornets went back to Emeka Okafor and David West. Okafor has 18 points. During the Heat's four-game winning streak, they have allowed an 84-point average The Hornets already have 64 points with 4;46 remaining in the quarter. The Hornets are leading 68-57. West has scored eight points in the quarter after having only two points in the first half. LeBron James has scored only two points in the quarter. Chris Paul continues to beat the Heat in transition to set up his teammates for layups.

SECOND QUARTER

After trailing by 12 after the opening quarter, the Heat has closed the deficit to four with 2:42 remaining. The Hornets continue to shoot at a brisk pace, hitting 50 percent of their shots. David West is off to a tough start,missing five of his first six attempts. The Hornets are beating the Heat in transition and Chris Paul is easily penetrating through traffic in the lane. Paul has nine assists and 10 points. Emeka Okafor leads the Hornets with 14 points. Dwayne Wade leads the Heat with 11 points and LeBron James has 12. Chris Bosh was held to two points on 1-of-5 shooting. The Hornets closed out the half leading by nine.



FIRST QUARTER

Powered by pin-point passing from star guard Chris Paul, the New Orleans Hornets rolled to a 29-17 lead.

Paul finished the period with nine assists and two points. Jason Smith provided some scoring punch from the bench as he scored six points after replacing David West, who got into early foul trouble. Emeka Okafor was the team's leading scorer with 11 points. Trevor Ariza added six.

The Heat was led by Dwyane Wade's eight points. Superstar LeBron James had five points in the period.



Pregame notes
lebron_james_dwyane_wade.jpgRusty Costanza/The Times-PicayuneLeBron James and Dwyane Wade and the Miami Heat will take on the New Orleans Hornets tonight at the New Orleans Arena.

New Orleans Hornets forward Trevor Ariza will start, despite having a sore hip. Heat forward LeBron James participated in the morning shootaround and was deemed ready after missing Thursday's practice because of right shin bruise. Heat Coach Erik Spoelstra said they are not overlooking the Hornets and have concerns about their pick-and-roll plays involving Chris Paul. Spoelstra said after viewing tape of the Hornets' victory against the San Antonio Spurs last week, he counted 40 pick-and-roll plays that involved Paul specifically.



Starting lineups



Hornets



G Chris Paul

G Marco Belinelli

C Emeka Okafor

F David West

F Trevor Ariza

Inactives - Joe Alexander, Aaron Gray and Peja Stojakovic

Heat



G Carlos Arroyo

G Dwayne Wade

C Joel Anthony

F Chris Bosh

F LeBron James

Inactives - Jamaal Magloire, Mike Miller and Dexter Pittman








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