CP-3’s Triple-Double Leads Hornets Past Warriors 108-96

Posted by Stephen Rhodes under Main

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New Orleans Hornets guard Chris Paul will no doubt get some votes for NBA MVP; Sunday’s game against the Golden State Warriors may get him even more attention from the people responsible for the voting.? Paul recorded his?4th career triple-double, leading New Orleans to a 108-96 win over Golden State at New Orleans Arena, in what most certainly did not help the Warriors’ quest in grabbing the 8th and final playoff berth in the Western Conference playoff race.

Golden State had the early momentum?after Andris Biedrins, who had 15 first-half points, capped an 11-0 Warriors run with a 3-point play.? That play gave the Warriors a 25-14 lead in the first quarter; the Hornets would respond with a 13-2 run early in the second quarter, pulling to within 38-37 on a tip-in by Tyson Chandler.? Later in the quarter, Jannero Pargo made a pair of 3-pointers, along with a trey by Julian Wright; then an accidental basket (possible by an underthrown alley-oop lob) by Paul capped an 11-0 run that put the Hornets up 52-46. Peja Stojakovic’s 3-pointer at the buzzer gave New Orleans a 59-51 lead going into halftime.

The Hornets led 82-71 in the third quarter after a 13-2 run, including a trey by Stojakovic and a layup by Paul; a putback of a missed shot by David West helped New Orleans take an 88-78 lead into the fourth quarter; Golden State would attempt one last rally as they sparked a 12-0 run started by Monta Ellis, whose jumper and dunk on consecutive possessions knotted the game up at 90.? But New Orleans’ Paul drained a 3, and the Hornets slowly pulled away.?

New Orleans’ high scorers were Stojakovic and West with 25 points each – with Stojakovic draining?3 three-pointers, grabbing 4 rebounds, dishing out 4 assists and making a steal while West grabbed 9 rebounds, dished out 2 assists, made 3 steals and blocked 2 shots; Paul recorded the aforementioned triple-double as he scored 16 with 10 rebounds, 13 assists and 5 steals while Pargo added 15, including 3 treys, 4 rebounds, 7 assists and 3 steals.? Golden State was led by Ellis with 35 points, 10 rebounds, 2 assists, 4 steals and a block while Baron Davis and Biedrins scored 17 each – with Davis grabbing 3 rebounds, dishing out 8 assists, made 3 steals and blocking a shot; Al Harrington added 16 with 8 rebounds, 2 assists and a steal.? New Orleans (54-22) remains at home as they host the Utah Jazz Tuesday while Golden State (46-31), in their quest for the final Western Conference playoff berth, returns home to host their conference rival Sacramento Kings – also on Tuesday.?

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