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 The old record was 15 assists, set by Muggsy Bogues in 1993.
David West scored 27 points and Peja Stojakovic 22 for New Orleans, which took a double-digit lead in the second quarter, led by as much as 25 in the third and never looked back.
Tyson Chandler had his second double-double of the series with 10 points and 11 rebounds, despite playing with foul trouble. Morris Peterson added 12 points and reserve guard Jannero Pargo had 10 for New Orleans, which was 10-of-18 on 3-pointers, with Stojakovic hitting 5-of-7.
The series now moves to Dallas, where the Hornets have not won since January 1998. But that streak will end if the Mavericks don't figure out how to slow down Paul and a supporting cast that has been playing with enormous confidence since the Hornets stormed back from a 12-point hole to win the series opener.
Dirk Nowitzki led Dallas with 27 points, but spent most of the night looking frustrated, yelling at no one in particular after he threw one pass out of bounds. Brandon Bass was another bright spot for Dallas, muscling inside for 19 points. Reserve Jason Terry added 16 points and Josh Howard scored 10.
The Mavs hoped Jason Kidd would be a bigger factor in this game, but he finished with only seven points and eight assists.
After Paul's dazzling 35-point, 10-assist performance in Game 1, Dallas coach Avery Johnson said the Mavs would throw more double-teams at Paul, hoping to get the ball out of the star point guard's hands.
The strategy backfired badly from the start. Paul easily split or dribbled around double-teams, scoring six points and assisting on eight baskets in the first quarter. Once he knifed through a Nowitzki-Kidd trap on the dribble and dropped in a floater from the lane. He twice found Chandler for alley-oop dunks. The Hornets shot a whopping 71 percent and set a franchise playoff record with 39 first-quarter points.
Dallas got its deficit briefly back to single digits behind 16 first-half points from Nowitzki and 10 from Howard.
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Dallas was hurt by seven turnovers in the second period, however, which the Hornets converted into 10 points, often in transition, as they began to widen their lead again.
More Dallas traps failed as Paul drew fouls dribbling toward the basket. Paul hit four free throws to make it 65-51, then West added two more foul shots to give him 18 points for the first half and put New Orleans up 67-51 at halftime.
Whatever adjustments the Mavs made at halftime, their plight only got worse.
Paul scored six quick points on two free throws, a driving layup and a running floater, then Stojakovic hit two jumpers, the second for his fourth 3 of the game, giving New Orleans an 80-58 lead.
Peterson then got involved with two 3s and jumper, and the Hornets, who shot 64 percent through three quarters, led 90-66 after West scored while backing in on Bass.
Bass, a force inside during this game, responded with nine points during the remainder of the period, making it 99-79 heading into the final period.
Notes: The Hornets scored 17 fast-break points in the first half, when they shot 62 percent. ... Paul had a double-double by halftime with 12 points and 10 assists. ... New Orleans finished with a 29-13 edge in fast-break points. ... Dallas outrebounded New Orleans 38-31. ... The Hornets also set team playoff records for first-half points and 3-pointers made.
[Associated Press; By BRETT MARTEL]
Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This
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