NEW YORK – Entering their game with the Knicks, the New Orleans Hornets had the Western Conference’s third-best record, although they are just three games ahead of the eighth seed Golden State Warriors in the loss column.

New York’s season isn’t nearly as promising. Just to even its 2006-07 record of 33-49, they must win 15 of the remaining 22 games. Yet, not even a 22 game winning streak would be enough to avoid a seventh consecutive losing season.

Chris Paul scored 19 of his game-high 27 points in the second half, as the visiting Hornets outscored the Knicks, 10-zip, over the final 3:33, to secure yet another victory for the opposition. With the win, the Hornets surpassed last season’s total of 39, and have now won eight of their last 11 away from The Arena.

On the other side of the ledger, this is the fourth consecutive losing season since Isiah Thomas’ arrival in December 2003. If an eighth straight sub-.500 record can be achieved next season, New York [18-42] would tie the franchise record for futility, previously established from 1959-60 to 1966-67. The since-deposed Larry Brown had guided them to a 17-43 after 60 games two seasons ago.

“The best teams are made in crunch time,” stated Paul, a solid MVP candidate, who added eight assists, five rebounds and three steals to the cause.

Tyson Chandler, who tallied 18 boards and 15 points, finished the Knicks for good by accepting Paul’s alley-oop feed with 1:07 remaining, and dunking over Wilson Chandler. David West, New Orleans’ other All-Star, had 19 points and eight rebounds.

Down the stretch, with the Hornets protecting a slim 90-88 margin, Paul engineered a highlight reel. First, he hit a lay-up over Curry for his first points of the stanza, then passed to Chandler for the clinching dunk, and a 94-88 advantage. Paul was later fouled by Lee [a season-tying 16 rebounds] while hitting another lay-up, and capped off the evening with a crisp one-bounce pass to Mo Peterson, who buried a trey from the right corner.

The 6’0” guard, is the biggest name on New Orleans’ roster. He averages 20.8 points and 10.9 assists, and is threatening to become the first NBA player to compile such numbers since Tim Hardaway [21.5/10.6] with Golden State in 1992-93. Ford also makes 2.7 steals per game, but it should be noted that no player has ever produced a 20 point/10 assist/3 steal campaign.

Jamal Crawford led New York with 20 points, but missed 13 of 20 shots. There was a rare Curry sighting in the late stages of the contest, largely because Zach Randolph’s bruised right foot prevented him from even attending the game. In fact, Curry played well during his 34 minute stint, hitting eight-of-11 for 19 points, while grabbing eight boards. Randolph is listed day-to-day, while doctors analyze the results of his MRI.

The Knicks, led by Nate Robinson’s 17 points, stayed close in the first half. They caught the Hornets at 49 apiece, when in the final :02.5 seconds of the second quarter, Peja Stojakovic missed a three-pointer from straightaway, and Crawford rebounded. Jared Jeffries, breaking down the middle, accepted Crawford’s sideline pass and slammed a left-handed dunk just before time expired.

Last night was the beginning of a four-game homestand for New York, which meets Cleveland on Wednesday, Detroit on Friday, and Portland on Saturday.

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