• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

West helps Hornets snap 11-game road losing streak to Kings

Apr 17, 2007 - 6:10 AM SACRAMENTO, California (Ticker) -- The New Orleans Hornets were sick of losing to the Sacramento Kings on the road, so they turned to David West.

West scored 25 points and Chris Paul added 23 and 12 assists as the Hornets posted a 125-118 victory over the Kings.

Devin Brown and reserve Bobby Jackson each had 20 points for the Hornets, who snapped an 11-game road losing streak to Sacramento.

"We always play well here and then lose it in the end," Paul said. "I didn't know about the streak. I'm just glad that we could come in and put us right back at 38 wins just like last year."

The Hornets last won here on January 12, 1997, when the club was located in Charlotte.

West, who tied his season high with 33 points in a 123-112 loss to Houston on Saturday, shot 10-of-19 from the field for the Hornets, who closed out the game on a 16-4 run.

"Even though we're not going to the playoffs, I just want to finish strong and be playing my best basketball at the end of the year," West said.

Paul and Jackson each connected on 8-of-13 from the floor for the Hornets, who shot 56 percent (48-of-86).

"Obviously we got the last run, which I thought was important," Hornets coach Byron Scott said. "We did a better job defensively than we did in the first half. In the last four or five minutes, we did a much better job of making them take some tough shots and rebounding the ball."

Ron Artest scored 22 points and Mike Bibby and reserve Francisco Garcia each added 17 for Sacramento, which falls to 20-20 at home with one game remaining vs. the Los Angeles Lakers here on Wednesday.

"It was like a track meet out there tonight," Bibby said. "I don't think either team was playing defense with that many points scored."

Shareef Abdur-Rahim had 15 points and Kevin Martin added 12 for the Kings, who shot 49 percent (45-of-91) and dropped the season series with the Hornets, 3-1.

"Give New Orleans a lot credit," Kings coach Eric Musselman said. "Paul down the stretch took over the game. He's a guy who is very difficult to keep in front of you. He and West were the difference down the stretch."