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Paul Leads Hornets To Sixth Straight Win, 115-110 Over Wizards
Washington, DC (Sports Network) - Chris Paul posted 26 points and 14 assists to lead the New Orleans Hornets in a 115-110 victory over the Washington Wizards for the team's sixth straight win.
Peja Stojakovic totaled 20 points, while David West and Marcus Thornton each scored 15 points for the Hornets, who are in the midst of their longest winning streak of the season.
Antawn Jamison dropped 32 points, and Randy Foye had a season-high 23 points to pair with eight assists for Washington, which was coming off an impressive win over Orlando on Friday.
Nick Young notched 20 points, and Brendan Haywood recorded 14 points and 14 rebounds in the loss.
The Wizards had a two-point edge entering the fourth quarter and broke a tie game on Young’s three-point play for a 92-89 advantage four minutes into the period.
The lead traded hands before Jamison’s jump shot midway through dropped for a 96-95 edge. Consecutive baskets from Young had the game tied at 101 with three minutes to go, but the Hornets went ahead for good on Paul’s ensuing jumper.
Paul poured in eight points over the final 2:48 and answered a Foye three- pointer with a short jumper to keep the margin at two possessions, 109-104, with the clock winding under a minute left.
He added three points at the foul line to help offset a Jamison bucket with 30 seconds left, growing the lead to a comfortable six points. Foye hit a layup with 10 ticks remaining for a 114-110 game to make things interesting, but he missed a three-pointer on the team’s final possession to seal New Orleans’ victory.
Washington held a slim 31-28 advantage at the close of the first quarter, but New Orleans used a 14-1 run through the middle stages of the second to open up a 48-39 lead on Darren Collison's layup with four minutes left. Paul's three- pointer just before halftime made it a 60-49 game.
The Hornets continued to play front-runner in the third, and Paul’s layup nearly halfway through the frame had the visitors’ lead at 11, 74-63.
However, the Wizards embarked on an ensuing 13-2 run and tied the game at 76 on Caron Butler's jumper with 2 1/2 minutes to play in the frame. A Jamison three-pointer moments later put Washington ahead by two -- which equaled the lead they carried into the fourth quarter, 82-80.
Butler had 10 points, six rebounds and six assists for Washington, which was outrebounded 41-29...James Posey checked in with 11 points for the Hornets, who shot 52.5 percent from the field...The Wizards shot 57.9 percent from the floor despite the loss...New Orleans hit 13-of-23 attempts from three-point range.
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