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Paul's prolific performance lifts Hornets over Mavs

Thu 15th, January 2009

Dallas, TX (Sports Network) - Chris Paul tallied 33 points, 11 assists, 10 rebounds and seven steals, leading the New Orleans Hornets to a 104-97 victory over the Dallas Mavericks at American Airlines Arena.

The Hornets had not posted a regular season win in Dallas since their days in Charlotte, when they defeated the Mavs on January 24, 1998. The team had lost the following 13 games in Dallas before Wednesday's win.

"You know, we needed a big game from (Paul)," said Hornets forward David West. "When we go out on these road trips, we like to get the first one, and that is the way you can really start a trip: by winning that first game. We knew we were going to need a great effort to come in here and get a win."

New Orleans did post a win in Dallas in last season's playoffs, when the Hornets ousted the Mavs in five games in the first round.

Peja Stojakovic posted 16 points for the Hornets, who have won seven of 10. West had 16 points, while Tyson Chandler recorded 10 points and 14 rebounds in the win.

"We were just very active," said Hornets forward James Posey. "We were able to get some steals and get some easy buckets, and it was just one of those things where everybody was focusing in and we got some stops. (Paul) played really well, and we needed it."

Devin Brown added 12 points for New Orleans.

Jason Terry led the Mavericks with 28 points, while Dirk Nowitzki contributed 20 points and 13 rebounds in Dallas' third loss in its last 26 regular season meetings with the Hornets. Antoine Wright was the only other player in double- figures with 15 for the Mavs.

"We've got to fight back from this," said Mavs head coach Rick Carlisle. "Every game is huge for everybody. We've just got to battle. You help each other and you fight. You break through at some point. I think we need to get away from this for a day after five (games) in seven nights."

Tied at 79 heading into the fourth, New Orleans took an early five-point lead on a couple of Posey free throws with just over nine minutes left.

The Hornets maintained their five-point edge until Paul made it 98-89 with back-to-back steal-and-layup plays with 3 1/2 minutes to go.

Terry drained a three with 2:47 left to pull the Mavs to within six, but they had trouble pulling closer.

Nowitzki and Terry each missed three-pointers on consecutive possessions, and West's layup with 1:08 to go put New Orleans up by eight. Paul sank two free throws with 24 seconds to go to make it 102-94, sealing the victory.

Paul led all scorers with 11 points in the first quarter, but Dallas held a 30-26 edge after the opening 12 minutes.

Dallas led, 56-51, at halftime behind Terry's game-high 18 first-half points.

Down five early in the third, New Orleans took a 63-61 lead on the heels of a 7-0 burst. The lead changed hands nine times for the remainder of the quarter, and, fittingly, the teams were tied, 79-79, heading into the fourth.

Game Notes

Paul came within three steals of recording a quadruple-double, which has been accomplished four times in NBA history, most recently in 1994 by Spurs center David Robinson...Dallas was a perfect 14-of-14 from the free throw line, while New Orleans went 14-of-17...Both teams shot well, with the Mavs shooting 50 percent and the Hornets shooting 49.4 percent overall...Dallas has lost four straight games.