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Paul, Hornets battle for final playoff spot

Feb 10, 2007 - 5:23 PM Memphis (12-38) at New Orleans (23-27) 8:00 pm EST

OKLAHOMA CITY (Ticker) -- Chris Paul and the New Orleans Hornets aim to stay in the race for the final spot in the Western Conference when they host the lowly Memphis Grizzlies Saturday.

New Orleans beat the Milwaukee Bucks, 109-101 in double-overtime on Thursday. Paul scored 14 points and handed out 10 assists for the Hornets, who are two games behind Denver for eighth place in the conference standings.

Desmond Mason scored 24 points and David West had 21 points and a career-high 19 rebounds for the Hornets, who won their second straight overtime contest.

Tyson Chandler added 11 points and a career-high 22 rebounds for the Hornets, who had a 71-49 advantage on the boards. It was Chandler's ninth straight game with at least a dozen rebounds, extending a franchise record he broke against Denver on Wednesday.

The Grizzlies posted a 105-97 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday. Rookie Rudy Gay scored 19 points and Mike Miller added 17, six rebounds and seven assists for Memphis, which outscored Minnesota, 13-5 including seven by Gay in the extra quarter.

Chucky Atkins had 15 points off the bench and Pau Gasol added 10 and a season high-tying 17 rebounds for the Grizzlies, who snapped a four game losing streak.

The Hornets have won eight of nine at home and beat Memphis 100-97 in overtime here in Oklahoma City on December 22.

The Hornets lead the series, 16-8.