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Paul helps Hornets rally against Rockets

Mar 26, 2007 - 3:53 AM OKLAHOMA CITY (Ticker) -- When the New Orleans Hornets needed to rally, they looked to Chris Paul.

Paul scored 20 of his 28 points in the second half as the Hornets posted a 106-94 victory over the Houston Rockets.

David West had 23 points and Desmond Mason added 19 for the Hornets (32-38), who moved within two games of the idle Los Angeles Clippers (34-36) for eighth place in the Western Conference playoff race.

"We had a bunch of guys that played well tonight, and that's what we need," Hornets coach Byron Scott said. "It has to be a total team effort each night, especially in these last 12 games."

Paul shot 10-of-15 from the field and 4-of-5 from 3-point range. However the 2006 NBA Rookie of the year scored eight points and Mason added 11 in the third period to help the Hornets turn an eight-point halftime deficit into a 75-73 lead entering the final quarter.

"In the first half, Yao Ming and Tracy McGrady got going," Paul said. "We started off slow, but in the second half, we turned up the intensity."

With the Hornets leading, 83-82, with 5:43 left in the fourth period, Paul scored 12 points over the next 4:44, including a pullup jumper over Yao with 59 seconds left to put the Hornets up, 101-94. The Hornets outscored the Rockets, 16-5, to end the contest.

"I thought that their pick-and-roll hurt us in the fourth quarter," Rockets coach Jeff Van Gundy said. "Also we didn't want to get dirty tonight in the paint, and they had their way with us."

Tyson Chandler had 14 points, 10 rebounds and three blocks and played excellent defense on Yao, who was only 7-of-22 from the floor. The Hornets shot 49 percent (42-of-85).

"I tried to wear Yao down and pick my spots with him," Chandler said. "I wanted to make him work and work. Then, hopefully, come the third and fourth quarters, his legs will get weary and tired. That's what happened tonight."

"Tyson did a great job tonight of holding Yao to 7-22 shooting," Paul added. "We didn't double Yao tonight, it was all Tyson. Tyson is a guy who works hard day in and day out and now he is starting to get the credit and the respect he deserves."

McGrady scored 31 points - 15 in the first quarter - and Yao added 16 and seven rebounds for Houston (44-26), which fell 1 1/2 games behind the idle Utah Jazz (45-24) for the fourth best record in the West.

"Paul got into the lane on us," McGrady said. "He creates things for other people. When he gets in there, he kicks the ball to West or one of their other guys. There were a lot of things that hurt us tonight. We deserved to get beat tonight."