Rockets overcome West's 44 points to beat Hornets

[December 30, 2009]  HOUSTON (AP) -- Aaron Brooks scored 27 points, Luis Scola added 13 points and 12 rebounds and the Houston Rockets overcame Chris Paul's triple-double and David West's career game in a 108-100 win over the New Orleans Hornets on Tuesday night.

Paul had 16 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists for his 11th career triple-double and first this season. West had 44 points and 12 rebounds, but the Hornets still slipped to 2-13 on the road this season.

Shane Battier scored 20 points and Carl Landry added 18 off the bench for the Rockets, who went 12 for 23 from 3-point range and finished with 27 assists.

West helped the Hornets rally to take the lead after Houston built a 10-point halftime lead. The Rockets shot 59 percent (23 of 39) in the first half, then missed their first six shots of the second.

West scored 22 points in the third quarter on 7-for-10 shooting. Scola poked him in the eye with 3:45 left, but West returned after a timeout and scored eight more points to carry New Orleans to an 82-74 lead.

With West on the bench for the start of the fourth quarter, Houston quickly took an 87-86 lead. West returned, but Brooks promptly hit his fifth 3-pointer. Brooks picked up his fifth foul seconds later and went to the bench.

Battier was fouled by James Posey on a 3-pointer from the wing with 5:25 left and swished the free throw to give Houston a 96-86 lead.

West hit consecutive baskets to match his previous career high (40) and Emeka Okafor converted a three-point play with 2:51 left to draw the Hornets within four. Okafor fouled out on Houston's next possession.

Devin Brown sank a 3-pointer to cut Houston's lead to 100-98, but Trevor Ariza drove for a dunk, then sank a free throw. Paul missed on a drive, Landry rebounded and hit a free throw with 27 seconds left to secure the win.

Both teams shot well in the first half, but the Rockets built a 61-51 lead.

The Rockets hit 14 of 18 shots, including five 3-pointers, during an 11-minute stretch between the first and second quarters. The Hornets shot 56 percent (20 of 36) over the first 18 minutes to stay within striking distance.

Brooks outplayed Paul for a half, sinking four 3-pointers and scoring 14 points. West scored 14 on 7-for-12 shooting in the first half.

NOTES: The Rockets acknowledged earlier they are trying to trade Tracy McGrady, after the two-time scoring champion's representatives asked the team to deal him. McGrady was dissatisfied with playing time as he tried to come back from offseason knee surgery. Coach Rick Adelman said McGrady never progressed to the point where he was ready to increase his minutes. "He's been hurt for over a year," Adelman said. "The thing that people want to write about is who he was two years ago, and he isn't that right now. We have a whole team here and it's not just about what he wants or what he was going to want, or what was going to happen." ... Scola has 14 double-doubles this season. ... Okafor matched a season high with five blocks, all in the third quarter.

[Associated Press; By CHRIS DUNCAN]

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