NEW ORLEANS, April 11 (UPI) -- Jason Smith made 10-of-12 from the field and scored 22 points Wednesday in leading New Orleans to a 105-96 decision over Sacramento.
In a meeting of the first two teams to be eliminated from playoff contention in the Western Conference, the Hornets won for just the 16th time in 58 games this season.
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Marco Belinelli added 21 for New Orleans, which shot 55 percent as a team. Greivis Vasquez chipped in 15 points and Xavier Henry had 14.
Sacramento became the fourth team in the NBA to lose its 40th game this year and recorded its sixth straight setback.
Marcus Thornton had 25 points for the Kings and Tyreke Evans scored 19. New Orleans overcame a nine-point deficit at the end of one quarter.
