• Tweet

• Tweet

I think that it is a safe assumption to say that Chris Paul is the main reason that the New Orleans Hornets were perfect at 7-0, going into their game against the visiting Portland Trail Blazers. Of course, Paul is getting help along the way, but CP-3 is the straw that stirs the drink in The Big Easy.

Fortunately for Paul, he had more than enough assistance as he and six other Hornets scored in double-digits while shooting 48 percent, allowing New Orleans to easily dispose of Portland 107-87.

While the Hornets did win the game with offense, their defense has been their calling card as they have held all of their opponents to date under 100 points or less. They have held their last three opponents to under 90 points or less. And a lot of the credit goes to New Orleans coach Monty Williams, who has done a masterful job in revamping their defense.

The Trail Blazers would go without the services of Brandon Roy, who would leave the game for good in the third quarter with a sore left knee.

New Orleans was running on all cylinders, dishing out 11 assists while turning the ball over just once in the first half, taking a 10-point lead on Peja Stojakovic’s 3-pointer with 8:47 in the second quarter and maintaining a double-digit advantage throughout the first half.

Stojakovic would add another trey to make the score 38-23 and New Orleans would lead by as many as 17 points.

Portland would slowly chop their deficit to 75-70 early in the fourth quarter, but the Hornets came back with a 16-5 run, effectively sealing the win.

Seven Hornets scored in double-digits, led by Marco Belinelli and David West with 18 points apiece, with Belinelli making four 3-pointers, grabbing 3 rebounds along with a steal while West grabbed 5 rebounds and dished out 2 assists. Emeka Okafor notched a double-double, scoring 14 while grabbing 12 boards while Paul, despite socring just 11 points, dished out 13 assists along with 5 steals.

Nicolas Batum led the Trail Blazers with 16 points, 4 rebounds and a block while Andre Miller and Wesley Matthews added 14 each, with Miller grabbed a rebound, dished out 4 assists along with a steal while Matthews grabbed 5 boards along with a steal and a block.

New Orleans (8-0) looks to stretch their win streak to nine as they visit Dallas to take on the Mavericks Monday night while Portland (6-5) travels to Memphis to face the Grizzlies Tuesday night.