Flashback: Zo beats the buzzer

Chicago Bulls' Michael Jordan, left, and Charlotte Hornets' Alonzo Mourning... — Chicago Bulls' Michael Jordan, left, and Charlotte Hornets' Alonzo Mourning talk on the floor during the fourth quarter of the Bulls' 103-80 victory. (May 2, 1995) Credit: AP

By Bobby BonettApril 1, 2012

Day 4 of our 30-team NBA playoff flashback profiles the New Orleans Hornets. The Hornets franchise has never won an NBA title and has 12 playoff appearances since the 1991-92 season.

Date: May 5, 1993

Situation: The No. 5 Charlotte Hornets lead the No. 4 Boston Celtics, 2-1, heading to Game 4 of the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs.

Context: The Hornets won nine of the final 12 games of the regular season, including the final five games, to finish 44-38 and make the playoffs. After losing Game 1, 112-101, Charlotte ran off back-to-back wins, including a double-overtime 99-98 win on the road in Game 2, to take a 2-1 series lead. Playing in Charlotte, the Hornets were looking for their first playoff series win in the franchise’s first trip to the postseason.

Recap: The Hornets looked poised to cruise to the team’s first playoff series win, leading 88-70 heading to the fourth quarter. Boston stormed back, though, going on a 33-14 run to take a 103-102 lead heading into the game’s final possession. As time expired, though, Charlotte center Alonzo Mourning beat the buzzer with a jump shot from the top of the key to give Charlotte the win, and send the Hornets to the Eastern Conference semifinals. Charlotte won, 104-103.

Top players: Alonzo Mourning finished the game with 33 points, seven rebounds and six blocks to lead the Hornets. Second-year forward Larry Johnson scored 20, and Kendall Gill added 18 points. Six different Celtics scored in double digits, led by Robert Parrish, who scored 24. It was Parrish’s final playoff game with Boston.

After the game: The Hornets went on to lose to the Knicks in five games. The series was far closer than the final tally indicated, though, with each of the final four games decided by four or fewer points. The Knicks won Game 2 in overtime, 105-101, while Charlotte won Game 3 in double-overtime — their only win of the series — 110-106.