"We're not a team. We're just a collection of individual basketball players right now," Scott recalled telling his players Wednesday. "I'm pretty good at holding things in for a little while, but when I let 'em out, I kind of let 'em out. I kind of let it out this morning."
Perhaps later this season, the Hornets will look back on their coach's rant as a turning point.
Peja Stojakovic hit a game-tying 3-pointer in the final seconds of regulation and Chris Paul scored six of his 39 points in overtime, lifting the New Orleans Hornets to a 114-107 victory over the Mavericks on Wednesday night, snapping Dallas' three-game winning streak.
David West scored 25 points, converting a crucial three-point play late in the fourth quarter and adding a couple key baskets early in overtime. Bobby Brown added 18 points for the Hornets, including a 3 and a breakaway dunk in the extra session. Emeka Okafor came through with 11 points, 13 rebounds and three blocks for his fourth double-double in New Orleans' first five games.
"Coach challenged us before the game," Paul said. "Tonight we weathered the storm. ... We showed a lot of perseverance."
Jason Terry had 35 points and Erick Dampier had 16 points and 14 rebounds for Dallas, which had a 97-94 lead and the ball with 10 seconds to go, but could not hold on.
Terry missed a technical free throw and Jose Barea missed two more foul shots, setting up the dramatic 3 by Stojakovic, who'd been 0 for 5 from long range before that.
39° 