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Without Paul, Hornets rout struggling Timberwolves

Nov 18, 2007 - 4:50 AM By Tom Coyer PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

MINNEAPOLIS (Ticker) -- With Chris Paul sitting out, the New Orleans Hornets turned to Peja Stojakovic to carry the scoring load as they extended their winning streak to five games with a 100-82 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Saturday night.

Stojakovic scored 22 points on 9-of-16 shooting - including 4-of-6 on 3-pointers - for the Hornets, who outscored the Timberwolves, 58-42, after halftime to secure the victory in an otherwise bland contest.

"Good movement, maybe lucky, too," Stojakovic said. "But good ball movement, good body movement, we were really aggressive and, at the same time, patient on the offensive end and we got good looks. We shot the ball well, too."

Starting in place of Paul, who was out with an injured ankle, Jannero Pargo collected 15 points and seven assists in his first start of the season for New Orleans, which shot 49 percent (40-of-82) from the field.

The Timberwolves continued to be plagued by turnovers, committing 16 miscues, which greatly contributed to their seventh loss in eight games this season. By comparison, New Orleans - without their starting point guard - committed only four turnovers on the night.

"You have to give JP (Pargo) a lot of credit," Hornets coach Byron Scott said. "He slowed it down, saw the floor, did all of the things a point guard is supposed to do. He got guys involved and, when he had opportunities, he made the best of that as well."

After leading, 42-40, at the half, New Orleans slowly pulled away in the third quarter with balanced scoring from their starting lineup while shooting 65 percent (13-of-20) in the period.

"I happened to look up at the scoreboard one minute and we were down (16 points), that's all I remember," Timberwolves guard Rashad McCants said.

Minnesota was led by Al Jefferson, who scored 20 points on 10-of-17 shooting with 10 rebounds.

The Timberwolves first-round pick, Corey Brewer, earned his first start of the season as Minnesota started the game with its sixth different lineup in eight games. Brewer struggled shooting 0-of-5 from the field but contributed six rebounds and three assists.

"I wanted to start Corey to bring some quickness to us defensively," Timberwolves coach Randy Wittman said. "I'm sure he learned a lot about what this guy (Stojakovic) can do.

"There are lessons that we are going to be faced with this year. We have to take those lessons and move forward and make ourselves better players down the road."

Antoine Walker, who the Timberwolves acquired just days before the regular season, also made his first start of the campaign.