Paul Out Duels Nash Hornets Buzz Past Suns 101-98

It is a huge accomplishment for a little brother to beat a big brother, as it’s a huge accomplishment for an unabashed fan beats their idol. Saturday night that took place in New Orleans as Hornets point guard Chris Paul had a double-double, outplaying his idol Steve Nash and the Hornets beat the Phoenix Suns 101-98. Paul scored 21 points, 10?assists, 2 steals and 2 rebounds, in a tight game that went back and forth all night long. There were 12 lead changes and the 2 teams were tied 18 times, before New Orleans finally walked?away with the win.

?New Orleans looked like they were going to run a way with this game in the first half, leading 31-26 at the end of the first quarter, and 59-46 as the two teams went to their locker rooms. But Phoenix came out on fire in the third quarter outscoring the Hornets 34-21 to pull even at the end of the period as the teams were knotted up 80-80. The contest came down to the final seconds, as New Orleans led by 1 point, when Shawn Marion let loose one of the ugliest shots of his career, missing everything. The Hornets recovered the ball, got it to Paul who was fouled with .02 left on the clock. Paul sank both shots at the charity stripe, and New Orleans had a happy home crowd who went home after watching a win.

Paul shot 8-20 from the field, 3-6 from outside the arc, and 2-2 at the line. Mo Peterson ended tied?with the point guard for the game high in scoring also with 21 points, 3 boards, 1 assist, 1 steal. Two other starters had double-doubles for New Orleans, David West scored 15 points, 11 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, 1 blocked shot. Tyson Chandler scored 14 points, a game high 18 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal. Rasual Butler scored 12 points, 5 boards 1 assist, 1 steal, and Hilton Armstrong scored 11 points off the bench, 3 rebounds.

Leandro Barbosa the Suns sixth man led the team with 19 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists, Barbosa shot 8-12 from the floor and hit 3-6 treys. Grant Hill continuing on his comeback tour scored 17 points, 7 rebounds,?4 assists, 3 steals, 2 blocked shots. Raja Bell scored 17 as well with 2 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, Amare Stoudemire, scored 16 points, 8 boards, 2 blocked shots, 2 assists. Nash scored 12 points, 7 assists, 3 rebounds, while Marion scored 11 points, 9 boards, 3 assists, 2 steals. The Hornets improve to 15-9 with the win, the Suns are 17-7.