Hornets work extra to clinch playoff spot

New Orleans is going back to the playoffs, thanks in large part to Rasual Butler and David West.

Butler made a score-tying three-point basket with no time remaining in regulation, West made the winning jump shot with 8.8 seconds left in overtime, and the Hornets beat the Miami Heat, 93-87, Tuesday night.

Chris Paul finished with 26 points, nine rebounds and nine assists, and Peja Stojakovic had 24 points for the Hornets (48-29), who clinched a postseason berth and stayed in the hunt for home-court advantage in the first round of the Western Conference playoffs.

Dwyane Wade scored 32 points before being ejected with 1.4 seconds remaining and Michael Beasley had 25 for the Heat (41-37), which remained half a game ahead of Philadelphia in the race for the fifth spot in the Eastern postseason chase. The Heat fell three games behind Atlanta for the fourth seeding in the East.

West finished with 20 points.