Hornets, Heat put on show in NBA TV Fan Night finale

This season, NBA TV was on the forefront of fan appreciation with the launch of Fan Night. Every Tuesday night Ahmad Rashad, Gary Payton and Chris Webber were the ringmasters of an interactive experience that put fans in control of which game they wanted to view.

Each night brought plenty of laughs and last night's finale was no different, as the crew took a trip down memory lane for the best moments of Fan Night this season. And when it came to game action in the finale, the New Orleans Hornets put on an amazing performance for the season finale of this one-of-a-kind show.

Rasual Butler hit a game-tying 3-pointer with no time remaining in regulation, David West hit the go-winning jumper with 8.8 seconds left in overtime, and the Hornets stunned the Miami Heat 93-87.

Chris Paul finished with 26 points, nine rebounds and nine assists, and Peja Stojakovic added 24 points for the Hornets (48-29), who not only clinched their postseason berth but stayed thickly in the hunt for home-court advantage in the first round of the Western Conference playoffs.

Fan Night and the regular season may be coming to an end, but the high-intensity NBA action has just begun. Make sure you don't miss any of the action because you never know where amazing will will happen.

Atlanta 118, Toronto 110
Charlotte 101, Philadelphia 98
New Orleans 93, Miami 87, OT
Portland 96, Memphis 93
San Antonio 99, Oklahoma City 89
Chicago 110, New York 103
Houston 93, Orlando 83
L.A. Lakers 122, Sacramento 104
Minnesota 87, L.A. Clippers 77

• Yao Ming, Rockets, had 20 points and 16 rebounds, outplaying Dwight Howard and leading Houston past Orlando 93-83.

• Chris Paul, Hornets, had 26 points, nine rebounds and nine assists as New Orleans clinched a playoff spot by beating Miami 93-87 in overtime.

• Tim Duncan, Spurs, had 25 points and 15 rebounds to help San Antonio beat Oklahoma City 99-89.

• Pau Gasol, Lakers, had 26 points and 12 rebounds to lead Los Angeles over Sacramento 122-104.

• Raymond Felton and Gerald Wallace, Bobcats. Felton scored a career-high 32 points and Wallace added 29, including the final four of the game, as Charlotte snapped a three-game losing streak by beating Philadelphia 101-98.

• Ryan Gomes, Timberwolves, had 24 points and 13 rebounds in Minnesota's 87-77 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers.

The New Orleans Hornets clinched their second straight playoff berth with a 93-87 overtime victory in Miami. Still in the running for home-court advantage in the first round, the Hornets could realistically finish anywhere from third to eighth.

Drew Gooden scored 20 points for his highest total since joining the Spurs last month, helping San Antonio beat Oklahoma City 99-89 on Tuesday. It was the Spurs' first game since learning Manu Ginobili would be sidelined for the remainder of the regular season and playoffs. Gooden, claimed off waivers from Sacramento in early March, played his most minutes since joining the Spurs and went 7-for-14 from the field and made all six of his free throws.

Houston's Carl Landry played for the first time since he was shot in the left calf in a late-night altercation on a city street on March 17. Wearing an elastic sleeve on his calf, Landry swished his first shot, a jumper from the free-throw line, and played 20 minutes in the Rockets' 93-83 victory over Orlando. Also back on the Toyota Center court was Rafer Alston, who scored 15 points with three assists in his first game in Houston since he was traded to Orlando on Feb. 19 in a deal that brought Kyle Lowry to the Rockets. Alston was the first Orlando player introduced and got mostly cheered. He ran to the Rockets' bench and slapped hands with his former teammates, then shook hands with team owner Leslie Alexander and embraced Houston's five starters before the opening tip.

The Miami Heat will likely be without forward Udonis Haslem for the remainder of the regular season because of a deep cut on his right thumb. Haslem was injured Friday in Charlotte while trying to block a shot. He needed six stitches to close the gash, and they're not scheduled to be removed until at least April 16 -- one day after the season finale.

Chicago forward Luol Deng likely is out until at least the playoffs. Deng hasn't played since Feb. 28 because of a stress fracture in his right tibia. He said he hasn't been able to run hard since the injury, and had a setback recently when he tried to increase his workouts.

Larry Brown, Bobcats coach and North Carolina alumnus, lifted his sweater before the game against the Sixers to reveal a Tar Heel blue T-shirt, a night after his alma mater won the NCAA Men's Basketball national title.

U.S. President (and basketball fan) Barack Obama referred to Hedo Turkoglu and Mehmet Okur in his speech Monday to the Turkish Parliament.

"The ties among our people have deepened as well, and more and more Americans of Turkish origin live and work and succeed within our borders," Obama said. "As a basketball fan, I've even noticed that Hedo Turkoglu and Mehmet Okur have got some pretty good game."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.