Hornet Lose First Game in OKC

laying their first game in a new home, the New Orleans Hornets had to work out some butterflies. By the time they settled down, it was too late to salvage a win.

Andre Miller had 19 points and 10 rebounds and keyed a late surge to help the Denver Nuggets beat New Orleans 97-93 Sunday night, spoiling the Hornets' debut in Oklahoma City.

"We wanted to impress the crowd so much. The city has done so much for us and welcomed us right in, and we just wanted to give them a good show and show them that we're going to play for them," New Orleans guard Chris Paul said. "I think guys just had a little bit of jitters."

The Hornets, who rallied from a 26-point deficit in the first half, had a chance to tie after getting the ball out of bounds with 7.8 seconds left, but DerMarr Johnson blocked J.R. Smith's 3-pointer from the left wing and Greg Buckner made a free throw to secure the win.

"I think I hesitated too much instead of just shooting the ball," Smith said. "Usually I'm a catch-and-shoot kind of guy, and I think he froze me a little bit as opposed to me freezing him."

The Hornets, playing for the first time in Oklahoma City's Ford Center, pulled within 87-85 on David West's right-handed layup in the lane before Nene hit two free throws and Miller made a layup to start a 7-0 run by the Nuggets. Miller also hit a free throw and made a steal during the spurt. (More at Washington Post)