The New Orleans Hornets are one win away from advancing into the second round of the NBA Playoffs following their game 4 win in Dallas 97-84.

The win was huge for the Hornets in two ways. First off, it was the first time the Hornets had won in Dallas since January 14, 1998. Secondly and more importantly, it gives the Hornets a 3-1 lead over the Mavericks with a chance to close out the series at the Hive Tuesday night.

"This is a great feeling to be up three-one but it doesn't mean too much right now. We understand we're in the driver's seat but at the same time it's really tough to close out a team," said Hornets point guard Chris Paul. CP3 finished the night with 16 points, eight assists and seven rebounds.

If the Hornets take care of business on Tuesday they would play the winner of the San Antonio - Phoenix series, one in which the Spurs have a three games to one lead. Hornets head coach Byron Scott says that's why it's important to take advantage of the opportunity to end the series now and now make it more interesting than it has to be.

"You got to approach it like you don't want to come back here. They have their backs against the wall so they are going to give it everything they got," Scott warns," to close out the series is probably the toughest game that you'll have."

The Hornets definitely took care of business on Sunday night as they played with poise and with a defensive intensity that was fun to watch. Dallas shot just 36-percent from the floor and after giving the Mavericks a 30-point first quarter, the Hornets defense clamped down allowing just 14-points in the second quarter and 40 the entire second half.

"I thought we could show better than what we showed them in game three," said forward David West who finished with 24 points on the night. "C.P. and myself were looking forward to playing this game immediately after game three was over. We got the result we wanted."

So now it's back to the Hive where hopefully an enthusiastic home crowd will provide enough help to send the Hornets into the second round of the playoffs for the first time since they're arrival in New Orleans and the 2002 season overall.

"We feel pretty confident going back home to New Orleans where we'll be back in front of our fans with that intensity," said Paul. "We're just happy to get one here on the road."

"We just got to go home, get some rest, watch some more tape and walk-through a few more things just to make sure we understand what we're doing and get ready for the biggest game in our lives," said Scott. Game 5 is Tuesday night at the Hive, tip off 6p.m.