The Sacramento Kings were squared up against the surprise story of the league, the feel good team, the New Orleans Hornets.

If you were a betting man, you would probably pick New Orleans—but you would have lost your money tonight! fellow

In one of the great upsets of the league this season . As the Kings were able to hoard off a series of late Hornets' runs to hang on 112-103. 

Ron Artest led all Kings scorers with 24 points. Peja Stojakovic led all Hornet scorers with 25 points. Chris Paul had another great game concluding his evening with 15 points and 19 assists. 

It was a true team effort, though, with the Kings having three starters with over 20 points, and all five in double figures. This was a flat-out statement game. Not that the Kings were that great, but simply the fact that New Orleans is not that good, this game proved that the Hornets are not as invincible as they seem. It's a shame that this game was not broadcast in front of a national audience.

The game got ugly quick, as the Kings ended the first quarter with a 15-point lead 34-19. At one point in the third quarter, Sacramento built their lead to 71-49. The Kings entered the fourth up 96-82. 

But the Hornets managed to ignite a fire under themselves and made it 106-96 with just over four minutes to play in the fourth. The Hornets' starting five took turns chipping away at the lead in the closing minutes of regulation with 10 points in 2:55—courtesy of jumpers by Paul, David West, Tyson Chandler, and a free throw by Chandler—to bring it to 108-101.

But that was meaningless, and in the end the Hornets couldn't overcome the hole they dug themselves into early on.