I think that it can be said that New Orleans Hornets point guard Chris Paul and power forward David West are one of the more potent combos in the NBA today; Tuesday’s game against the Indiana Pacers would pretty much validate that point as West and Paul combined for 66 points, leading the Hornets to the victory over the Pacers 114-106 at Conseco Fieldhouse.

New Orleans would lead at halftime, 59-56, then they would proceed to go on a 13-2 run to start the third quarter, taking a 72-58 lead; Indiana would end the period?on a 9-2 run – including two 3-pointers by Danny Granger and a trey by Shawne Williams – to reduce New Orleans’ lead to 86-79 at the end of the third quarter.? With the Hornets’ Paul on the bench, the Pacers methodically chopped into the Hornets’ lead; a 3-point play by Williams and a pair of free throws by Granger made the Pacers’ deficit only 90-86 before Paul returned for New Orleans.

A dunk by the Hornets’ Tyson Chandler extended their lead to 98-89; the Pacers would quickly rally.? A trey from Granger, a jumper by David Harrison and a hook by Mike Dunleavy would reduce New Orleans’ lead to 100-98 before Hornets coach Byron Scott called a timeout with 5 minutes left.? As a result, the Hornets would outscore the Pacers 14-8 the rest of the way.? New Orleans’ high scorer was West with 35 points, 16 rebounds, an assist, 3steals and 2 blocks while Paul scored 31 with 3 rebounds, 14 assists and 3 steals; Peja Stojakovic added 16 – including four 3-pointers – with 4 rebounds, an assist and a steal while Chandler pitched in with 15 along with 7 rebounds, an assist and a steal.

Indiana was led by Granger with 26 points, including 3treys, 9 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals and 2 blocks while Dunleavy and Williams scored 17 apiece – with Dunleavy grabbing 4 rebounds, dishing out an assist, with a steal while Williams grabbed 4 rebounds, dished out an assist with a block.? New Orleans (48-21) now makes the short flight to Cleveland to take on the Cavaliers Wednesday while Indiana (29-42) travels to New Jersey to face the Nets – also on Wednesday.