Nuggets point guard Chauncey Billups was thrilled with his 36-point performance in the team's Game 1 win over the Hornets, but believes that winning is everything.

"It was definitely one of my best games in the playoffs," Billups said Monday. "More importantly just winning is everything. When you're going to have a special night like that, it's a great time for me to have that. But it was definitely one of my best performances."

Billups hit a career-high eight three-pointers in the victory, to go along with eight assists and no turnovers.

The win snapped Denver's eight-game postseason losing streak.

"For me to have a chance to be playing in the playoffs, on a really good team, at home, in front of all my family and all my fans, it was special," Billups, a Denver native, said. "It's a feeling you have when you're playing at home that a lot of people never get to experience. I'm grateful for that."