Hornets beat Magic 117-85

[February 19, 2009]  NEW ORLEANS (AP) -- Chris Paul had 36 points and 10 assists, and the New Orleans Hornets handed the Orlando Magic their worst loss of the season, 117-85 on Wednesday night.

Rasual Butler added 15 points, and David West had 14 for the Hornets, who've won their first two games following the All-Star break.

Rashard Lewis had 17 points, and J.J. Redick 14 for Orlando, which shot poorly from the field and free-throw line. Dwight Howard had 12 points and was a non-factor for most of the last three quarters, when he scored only two points.

Orlando's previous worst loss was by 19 points to Boston on Dec. 1. Having won in overtime against Charlotte on Tuesday night, the Magic looked flat in New Orleans, shooting 37 percent (26-of-70) and trailing by double digits most of the game.

New Orleans outscored Orlando 44-18 in the paint and outrebounded the Magic 46-35.

Orlando was as close as 58-50 after Hedo Turkoglu's 3 early in the third quarter, but the Hornets seemed unfazed. Minutes later, West's driving scoop ignited an 8-0 run that included six points from Paul, the last on a soft jumper set up by a weaving dribble across the lane.

Butler added a pair of 3s later in the quarter and Paul another jumper as New Orleans built its lead back up to 86-62 heading into the final period. New Orleans' lead only grew from there as all 12 Hornets who dressed ended up with at least two points.

Reserves Melvin Ely and Devin Brown each finished with 11 points, Peja Stojakovic had 10 and the Hornets shot 58 percent (46-of-79).

After Howard had 44 points, 19 rebounds and eight blocks a night earlier, the big worry for New Orleans was what Orlando's superstar center would do against Hilton Armstrong, Sean Marks and Ely, who'd been reserves before Tyson Chandler injured his left ankle in January. The 7-foot-1 Chandler, the Hornets best interior defender and rebounder, was then was traded to Oklahoma City on Tuesday in a deal that ended up being rescinded Wednesday night because he failed a physical.

Although Howard was solid early on, those worries began to fade when it became apparent that Paul's advantage over the likes of Anthony Johnson and Tyron Lue would more than compensate.

New Orleans raced to a 17-6 lead, with Paul scoring 12 of those points and assisting on Stojakovic's transition jumper.

Late in the first quarter, Paul had 16 points, three assists and four rebounds, compared to 14 points, four assists and three rebounds for the entire Orlando team. At that point, New Orleans had made 13 of its first 17 shots and led 33-14.

Other than Howard, who had 10 points in the opening quarter -- six on free throws -- Orlando had trouble making shots. From late in the first quarter until several minutes into the second, Orlando was mired in a 1-of-17 shooting slump, dropping the Magic to 5-of-25 (20 percent) overall to that point.

New Orleans' lead got as big as 41-21 before the first of Redick's three 3's in the period. Orlando made five of six 3-point attempts in the latter half of the period, but could not reduce its deficit much because of Paul's continued onslaught, which included a 3 of his own and a fast break layup that he started with a steal and ended with hesitation dribble as he drove to the hoop.

Paul ended up with 26 points by halftime, at which point New Orleans led 56-43.

Notes: The Magic won the only other meeting this season at home on Christmas Day, 88-68. ... Saints players Reggie Bush and Mike McKenzie attended the game together, sitting next to Paul's brother, C.J.

[Associated Press; By BRETT MARTEL]

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