New Orleans Hornets guard Willie Green reacts after scoring against the Phoenix Suns in the second half of an NBA basketball game in New Orleans, Friday, April 8, 2011. Green contributed a game-high 31 points, including five three-point shots, to New Orleans' 109-97 win over Phoenix. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)
NEW ORLEANS ― Willie Green stunted forward, stepped back and launched a 3-pointer.
As soon as the ball steamed through the rim, Green pumped his fist in a fit of enthusiastic rage.
Seconds later, he culled a charge on defense, the Hornets called timeout and the 14,950 in attendance dutifully applauded a historic effort.
Green started the game 12 of 12, setting a Hornets franchise record for consecutive shots made, and helped guide New Orleans to a comfortable 109-97 win over the Phoenix Suns in the penultimate home game of the regular season.
“I knew I was in a rhythm,” Green said afterward. “I knew I was in a zone. But I didn’t know I was 12-for-12. It was a good feeling. I had it going and I was trying to keep it going. I was just trying to be aggressive.”
Green finished the game 12 of 17 for 31 points with four assists, three rebounds and two steals.
“Willie, I don’t know if you say en fuego or caught fire, whatever the case was, he got hot tonight and he was rolling a bit,” Hornets coach Monty Williams said.
When there were few storyline heading into Friday’s game – the Hornets (46-33) clinched a postseason berth two nights earlier – Green gave those in the Hornet’s Nest a reason to be thankful they came out.
“Willie is one of those guys who comes in and works hard every day,” Hornets point guard Chris Paul said. “Like I said early in the season, Willie is a guy that used to guard me every time I used to play against him. Great to see him in a zone like that.”
Green passed Anthony Mason’s previous record of 11 consecutive shots as well as Tyson Chandler and Darren Collison, who both made 10 straight field goals.
If you watched the game from its inception, you never would have guessed it would end the way it did.
The game started out familiar, what with the Hornets starting slowly before fighting back to take a 31-30 lead at the end of the first quarter.
At that point, Green was a pedestrian 1 of 1. He went 5-for-5 in the second quarter to finish the half 6 of 6. But then teammate Carl Landry also was rolling, ending the opening 24 minutes shooting 100 percent.
All the while, the Hornets were finding a way to hold onto the lead, 59-53 at the break. Phoenix (38-41) shot 53.7 percent but were bested by New Orleans at 56.1 percent. Yet, the Suns were killing in the paint, scoring 34 points down low in the first half.
No one had any clue what was about to happen.
Green hit his only shot in the third and it was a preview of the final 12 minutes. Guarded closely, he tossed up a 12-foot fade away and suddenly he was 6-for-6 and the buzz started.
“He was feeling it,” Suns guard Vince Carter said. “It was just his night. He was hitting shots, contested shots. He had a few a few open shots. He got in the paint and hit some tough shots. Good for him.”
He hit his first shot of the fourth quarter, a 26-foot 3-pointer that was the opening salvo in a quarter to remember, with 10:56 to play. The shot gave New Orleans a double-digit lead it wouldn’t relinquish.
Two minutes later, Green put up a 15-foot step-back jumper to give the Hornets a 12-point advantage.
Then the barrage quickened pace.
With 6:40 to play, Green hits a 3-pointer. With 5:58 on the clock, it was a 17-foot jumper.
And then with 5:12 to go, he hit what will go down as the night’s most historic shot, 27-footer that was in as soon as it left Green’s hands.
But the thing that stood out the most was his willingness, after the emotion of hitting a shot that gave New Orleans a 19-point lead, to get back on defense and force the offensive foul on Grant Hill.
“He's always been like that,” Williams said. “He has games where he hasn’t shot the ball well, but he still tries to defend. That's just who Willie is. He's been a leader for us all year from that standpoint, playing the game the right way.
“If he was 0-for-12, it would not have mattered. I think he would have taken that charge anyway.”
Said Green, “I was happy with making the shot and then getting back on defense and getting the charge. All of it collectively together because that’s something we stress. Even though we’re doing things we’re capable of on offense, defense is our pillar.”
Yes indeed.
But it was Green’s offense that will be remembered from Friday night.
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