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 David West scored 27 points and reserve guard Jannero Pargo 22 added for New Orleans, which shot 53 percent in avoiding its first four-game losing streak of the season.
The Suns continued to struggle since trading Shawn Marion for Shaquille O'Neal, but they couldn't blame their third loss in five games solely on the veteran 7-foot-1 center, who had 15 points and seven rebounds.
Phoenix fell apart defensively in the second half in the face of the Hornets' combination of up-tempo offense and good perimeter shooting. The Hornets were 8-of-15 from 3-point range while outscoring Phoenix 16-12 on the fastbreak and 40-36 inside.
Hornets center Tyson Chandler, who hadn't notched a double-double in his previous four outings, awoke from that slump with 12 points and 15 rebounds. He muscled inside for follow-up dunks on teammates' missed shots and threw down several alley-oop dunks.
Amare Stoudemire led Phoenix with 32 points and 14 rebounds. Leandro Barbosa scored 17 points, hitting five 3-pointers, Raja Bell had 14 points and Steve Nash 13 assists.
New Orleans shot nearly 70 percent in the third quarter and opened a 20-point lead. West hit a jump hook to start it off, then Paul hit a jumper and a 3 before feeding Chandler on the first of two alley-oop dunks in the period.
Morris Peterson, who finished with 11 points, hit all four of his shots in the quarter, including a 3-pointer. Stojakovic closed out the period with a leaner off the glass as he was fouled, putting New Orleans ahead 97-77 heading into the final period.
Stoudamire hit a pair of straightaway jumpers to open the fourth quarter, but Pargo responded with his third 3-pointer, and New Orleans maintained a comfortable lead the rest of the way.
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Superb 3-point shooting helped the Suns take an early lead as Barbosa's first three shots were 3s. Bell, Stoudamire and Linton Johnson all made one, as well, as Phoenix started 6-of-7 from long distance.
The Suns led by as much as eight in the first half before the Hornets began to find their range.
Pargo, who had 16 points in the half, and Stojakovic each hit a pair of 3s in the second quarter, the last by Stojakovic lifting the Hornets into the lead at 53-51.
Paul later fed Chandler for a soaring tomahawk jam that energized the sellout crowd, and the Hornets led 59-55 at halftime.
Notes: Bonzi Wells sat out with a bruised Achilles' tendon. He has played twice since the Hornets acquired him in a trade last week. ... The Hornets have won all four of their meetings with the Suns this season. ... Attendance was 17,931, the Hornets' second sellout in four home games since the All-Star break.
[Associated Press; By BRETT MARTEL]
Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This
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