In what should’ve been the Hornets’ welcome mat for their first ever conference finals, it turned out to be the precursor to their demise.

The 2008 NBA playoffs will have its second Game 7 on Monday after the Spurs simply violated New Orleans, 99-80, to push their second round best-of-seven series to the full seven games.

The New Orleans Hornets had the opportunity to advance to the conference finals for the first time in franchise history, unfortunately for them, they were not ready for Duncan and Ginobili bringing their A-game at the AT&T Center Thursday night.

Facing elimination, the San Antonio Spurs turned to the two guys who brought this franchise to where they are now, as Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili combined for 45 points to keep the defending champions alive in these playoff wars.

‘’We know what we’re facing. We’re facing elimination,'’ Tim Duncan said. ‘’And we know we have to put a good game together there. We’re going to take it in there and it’s do-or-die.'’

Duncan scored 20 points to go with his 15 rebounds while Manu Ginobili led offensively, scoring a game-high 25 points in 9-15 shooting from the field. Yup, the guy was on fire, draining six three-point shots in nine attempts. (Jeez… How in the hell can you defend that?!?)

The Hornets were led by Chris Paul, who scored 21 points to go with eight assists. Tyson Chandler chimed in with 14 and David West scored 10 in a rather miserable 4-of-14 shooting from the field.

But perhaps the biggest story for the Hornets is David West aggravating his back injury early in the fourth quarter that forced him out for the rest of this one-sided ballgame.

‘’It’s sore right now. Good thing we have two or three days here to get rest and treatment. It’s the way it happens sometimes,'’ West said.

Who will win the NBA title in the 2008 NBA playoffs? Bodog Sportsbook has the odds.

San Antonio Spurs 11.00

New Orleans Hornets 7.00

Boston Celtics 2.75

Detroit Pistons 5.00

Want more odds? Visit Bodog for more basketball betting odds and the best betting lines on some of today’s biggest sporting events.

San Antonio Spurs New Orleans Hornets