It isn’t every day that two players on the same team have excellent overall games while the bench collapses. Yet that’s exactly what happened Tuesday when the New Orleans Hornets visited Houston to take on the Rockets at Toyota Center. Both teams shot well, yet despite a career high of 44 points by David West and Chris Paul’s 11th career triple-double, a big fourth quarter helped Houston beat New Orleans 108-100.

The Rockets hit 14-of-18 shots, including five 3-pointers, during an 11-minute stretch between the first and second quarters. The Hornets shot 56% (20-of-36) over the first 18 minutes to stay within striking distance. Both teams shot well in the first half, but the Rockets built a 61-51 lead. With West on the bench for the start of the fourth quarter, Houston quickly took an 87-86 lead. West returned, but Aaron Brooks promptly hit his fifth 3-pointer. Brooks picked up his fifth foul seconds later and went to the bench.

Battier was fouled by James Posey on a 3-pointer from the wing with 5:25 left and swished the free throw to give Houston a 96-86 lead. West hit consecutive baskets to match his previous career high (40) and Emeka Okafor converted a three-point play with 2:51 left to draw the Hornets within four. Okafor fouled out on Houston’s next possession. Devin Brown sank a 3-pointer to cut Houston’s lead to 100-98, but Trevor Ariza drove for a dunk, then sank a free throw. Paul missed on a drive, Landry rebounded and hit a free throw with 27 seconds left to secure the win.

Brooks led the Rockets with 27 points (including 5 three-pointers), a rebound, 4 assists and a steal while Shane Battier added 20 (including 5 treys) with 2 rebounds, 3 assists and a block; Carl Landry came off the bench to pour in 18 with 6 rebounds, 2 assists, a steal and a block while Luis Scola earned a double-double, scoring 13 with 12 rebounds.

The Hornets had only two players in double-digits, led by West with a career-high 44 points, 12 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 steals while Paul secured his 11th career triple-double by scoring 16 points, grabbing 11 rebounds and dishing out 10 assists along with 2 steals and 2 blocks. Houston (19-13) plays again on Thursday when they host the Southwest Division-leading Dallas Mavericks while New Orleans (13-16) travels to Miami to face the Heat on Wednesday.