San Antonio's Tim Duncan battles Tyson Chandler for the ball
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The San Antonio Spurs booked their place in the Western Conference final with a 91-82 Game Seven win over the Hornets in New Orleans on Monday.
The defending NBA champions will play the LA Lakers in the conference final, with the first game in LA on Wednesday.
The Spurs held a 71-56 lead going into the fourth quarter but the Hornets cut that to 83-80 with 90 seconds left.
San Antonio, for whom Argentine Manu Ginobili scored 26 points, pulled away again to clinch the series 4-3.
Point guard Tony Parker also contributed 17 points and Tim Duncan 16 to help the Spurs to a rare away win.
David West top-scored with 20 points for the Hornets, but play-maker Chris Paul, a first-year All Star, was held to 18 points and eight rebounds.
"We did a very good job on him and we've got to give Tony Parker and Bruce Bowen a lot of credit," said Ginobili.
"Chris Paul is a heck of a player. He is very smart and good finishing at the paint so it was a tough job. But they did unbelievable work in the last two games."
The Hornets failed in their bid to reach the conference final for the first time in the franchise's 20-year history, but coach Byron Scott was delighted with their progress.
"You don't go from not making the play-offs to winning the championship, it just doesn't work that way, but I think we have developed something special here," he said.
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