NBA – Hornets win, now sweating over status of D-West [video]

SALT LAKE CITY (NBA) - Lady luck smiled on New Orleans when big man Emeka Okafor banked in a desperation, fade-away 20-foot jumper to force overtime before the Hornets beat the Utah Jazz 121-117 on Thursday.

But New Orleans are now hoping they have avoided the bad fortune of losing David West to a serious knee injury.

West had to be taken off the court in a wheelchair after dunking and having a bad fall.

He was due to have an MRI on his left knee on Friday.

"When you lose somebody like D-West, it's devastating," said Hornets guard Chris Paul.

"That's our go-to guy. But if anybody can bounce back from it, its D-West."

West had 29 points in 38 minutes to lead New Orleans in scoring.

The seventh-place Hornets (41-31) moved a game clear of eighth-place Memphis (40-32) in the Western Conference standings.

Utah dropped to 36-37 and now trail Memphis by four and a half games.

Dallas are third in the Western Conference at 50-21 after winning 104-96 over visiting Minnesota (17-55).

Germany's Dirk Nowitzki poured in 30 points for the Mavs.

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