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Paul leads Hornets past Grizzlies

Feb 11, 2007 - 5:45 AM OKLAHOMA CITY (Ticker) -- This time Chris Paul and the New Orleans Hornets didn't need overtime to earn a victory.

Paul scored 23 points and handed out 11 assists as the Hornets posted a 114-99 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies.

David West had 22 points and eight rebounds and Desmond Mason added 16 points for the Hornets, who won their third straight but first in regulation.

The Hornets needed overtime to beat the Nuggets in Denver, 114-112, on Wednesday, and outlasted the Milwaukee Bucks, 109-101, in two OTs on Thursday.

Against Memphis, Paul connected on 8-of-10 from the floor, including 3-of-3 from the arc, as the Hornets won for the ninth time in 10 home games.

"First game out of the last three that we didn't need overtime," Paul said. "It was a good team win, everyone had a great game and Tyson Chandler continues to play outstanding."

Chandler had 15 points and 16 rebounds for the Hornets, who shot 56 percent (48-of-86) and outrebounded the Grizzlies, 47-33.

"I think defending has started to become a constant with us," Hornets coach Byron Scott said. "We are holding our opponent's field-goal percentage to the low 40s, and rebounding. Those two things go hand-in-hand."

It was Chandler's 10th straight game of at least 12 boards, extending a club record.

"Tyson and David are doing an excellent job of going after the glass and getting second-chance opportunities," Scott added.

Pau Gasol scored 21 points, grabbed 11 rebounds and added six assists for Memphis, which has lost five of six.

"We have to do a better job and be more physical," Gasol said. "It was just a layup drill for them. We just have to be tougher."

Rookie Rudy Gay and reserve Hakim Warrick each had 14 points for the Grizzlies, who shot 44 percent (36-of-82) and are 1-9 when allowing the Hornets to score 100 or more points.

"We gave them the ball too deep in the post," Grizzlies interim coach Tony Barone said. "It's simple. There is nothing unique about where they got the ball, they got the ball at the box. NBA players score at the box."