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 Rubio says the fate of Iran's conversion facility is what matters. Her blood isn't compatible with anyone else's. Some of the most explosive Diddy allegations are dropped. NJ lifeguard survives after being impaled by an umbrella. Report an error