Hornets beat Pacers 103-100 on Chris Paul's late 3

[January 20, 2009]  NEW ORLEANS (AP) -- Chris Paul capped a 27-point performance with an off-balance 3-pointer as time expired, lifting the hobbled New Orleans Hornets to a 103-100 victory over the Indiana Pacers on Monday.

Peja Stojakovic hit five 3-pointers and finished with a season-high 26 points for New Orleans. The Hornets started the game without David West (back) and lost center Tyson Chandler (left ankle) late in the second quarter.

Indiana's Danny Granger scored 30 points, including a tying 3 with 2.5 seconds left, after which he pounded his chest with his right fist. Moments later, he was slumped over, head hanging, as the Hornets mobbed Paul following his winning shot.

New Orleans led 97-92 after Paul's cross-court pass set up Rasual Butler for an open jumper with 1:16 left. The Pacers responded with Jarrett Jack's 3, then T.J. Ford stole the ball from Paul and converted a tying layup.

Melvin Ely, who entered in the third quarter after Chandler's backup, Hilton Armstrong, left with a sore knee, scored his only point of the game when he made one of two free throws with 26 seconds left, putting New Orleans up 98-97.

Ford then lost the ball out of bounds and had to foul out with 6.3 seconds to go as Paul tried to dribble away and run out the clock. Paul, who played the last seven minutes with five fouls, hit both free throws to set up the thrilling finish.

Butler had 17 points for New Orleans, hitting three of the Hornets' 12 3-pointers.

Troy Murphy had 17 points and 11 rebounds and Stephen Graham added 14 points, hitting two 3s in the fourth quarter as the Pacers mounted a comeback. Mike Dunleavy and Jack each scored 11 points.

Chandler sprained his ankle when he landed on Ford's foot after going up for a rebound with 3:10 left in the first half. He was replaced by Armstrong, who departed early in the third quarter. Still, New Orleans widened its lead during the period, when Indiana shot 18 percent (4-of-22) and attempted only two foul shots, missing one.

James Posey's 3 began a 9-2 Hornets spurt, capped by Julian Wright's short floater, and New Orleans led 74-65 heading into the fourth quarter.

With West sidelined, Hornets coach Byron Scott started Sean Marks in his place. Marks got off to a slow start, missing his first three shots. The Hornets seemed to struggle initially with the lineup change, starting 2-of-9 from the field and falling behind 20-11 on Granger's driving layup.

Granger had 13 of his points in the first quarter, but New Orleans shot its way back into the game, making five 3s in the opening period.

Reserve guard Antonio Daniels' 3 at the end of the quarter cut Indiana's lead to 28-26. New Orleans then tied it when Armstrong made a steal near half court and dribbled all the way in for a layup. The game remained tight for the rest of the period, with Daniels' free throws giving the Hornets a 56-55 halftime lead.

Notes: West missed his first game of the season. He averaged 20 points and 7.1 rebounds in the Hornets' first 37 games. Scott said West may also miss Wednesday night's home game against New Jersey... Granger has scored 22 or more points in 16 straight games.

[Associated Press; By BRETT MARTEL]

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