For the first time all season, to me, the Hornets looked like the team that was so dominate late last season, and during the early games in the playoffs.
I think the San Antonio Spurs had something to do with that.
The Hornets outscored the Spurs 18-4 to end Wednesday night's 90-83 New Orleans win. The Hornets went from 7 down to 7 up.
The Hornets clamped down on the defensive end. A Hornets staffer said the best hustle play all season came during that stretch. Rasual Butler ran the length of the floor on a Hornets fast break to tip in a missed James Posey layup.
The energy in the building was palpable. The fans booed Tony Parker every team he got the ball. When Tim Duncan argued for a foul call that never came, fans yelled at him and accused him of being a crybaby.
It was funny stuff. I told co-anchor Michael Hill on our 6 pm show that night that a little "contempt" was a good thing. Contempt and lots of respect sum up Hornets vs Spurs.
It was fun to watch. Even more so, when the Hornets played their best basketball of the season in the final six minutes.
The Spurs had something to do with that.