The Nets haven’t been in this kind of game in a long time, one that could have gone either way, and one that came down to late-game execution.

The Nets made just enough plays to beat the Hornets 103-101 in overtime and end a three-game losing streak. Just enough.

The past six Nets’ games were lopsided; all of them decided by double-digits. But this was a nail-biter last night. They looked like they were going to win early in the fourth quarter and then appeared they were going to lose in the final minute.

Then they got it to overtime and looked like they were going to pull away, but had some lapses and almost let it slip away. In the end, the Nets breathed a huge and collective sigh of relief after this bench-led victory.

“Nobody really got rattled tonight, which is good,” Nets coach Avery Johnson said. “Nobody lost their composure. Our team, tonight, we were men the whole 48 minutes of the game and overtime. Everybody was really confident and the physicality was good.”

The bench carried the Nets on a night when Devin Harris had just two points on three shots. Sasha Vujacic was brilliant with 25 points. Kris Humphries had 14 and 15 rebounds and Jordan Farmar eight points and 11 assists.

The Nets can’t expect these types of numbers from their subs all the time, but they should expect this overall effort.

They also probably needed this type of win to help their confidence. Now they have to make sure they don’t get overconfident as they seem to do after good performances or victories over good teams.

The Hornets will be a playoff team in the Western Conference, although they didn’t look like one last night. All-Star point guard Chris Paul just had a miserable night by his standards. He missed 11-of-15 shots, scored nine points to go with 11 assists and seven turnovers.

He had chances to put the game away, tie it in overtime or win it for the Hornets, but he just didn’t make the plays you’ve come to expect Paul to make.

Paul missed a 10-footer in regulation that would have put the Hornets up four, he fell down and lost the ball out of bounds with 19.5 seconds in OT with the Nets up two. Then after the Nets couldn’t convert, Paul’s three-pointer at the buzzer was in and out.

The Nets really escaped with this victory because they had their chances to win this game too much easier.

They were up eight in the fourth period, but made just one field goal over a 7:20 stretch. The Nets still were able to get the game into overtime with two makes and two stops in the final 41.4 seconds.

Then in overtime, they were up five with 1:19 left and then it was tied 101-101, 33 seconds later. Brook Lopez put the Nets ahead with two foul shots with 24.3 seconds left and after Paul’s turnover they seemed to be in good shape.

Only the Nets couldn’t inbound the ball and gave it back to New Orleans. After Willie Green missed a jumper, Humphries rebounded it but missed the two foul shots with 4.3 seconds left.

Then Paul’s shot rimmed out and the Nets earned a win they needed and fought to get. It was their first in February and they worked overtime to get it. They key word is worked, which was fitting, considering how the Nets have been starting games lately.

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Follow me on Twitter: @Al_Iannazzone

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Al Iannazzone covers the Nets for The Record (Bergen County, N.J.)