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Paul, Williams do battle in key Western Conference showdown

Apr 8, 2008 - 1:49 PM Utah (51-26) at New Orleans (54-22) 8:00 pm EDT

NEW ORLEANS (Ticker) - Chris Paul and the New Orleans Hornets put their five-game winning streak on the line Tuesday when they meet Deron Williams and the Utah Jazz.

The third overall pick in the 2005 draft, Williams has been at his best against the player selected right behind him, Paul.

Williams has helped his team take two of the three meetings in the season series with the Hornets - averaging 21.0 points and 9.3 assists - while Paul has average 15.0 points and 9.3 assists over the same time.

While Williams has won the statistical battle, Paul has led his team to the best record in the Western Conference and on the verge of the best season in franchise history.

With one more win, the Hornets will surpass the 54 wins they accumulated in 1996-97 while the team was still based in Charlotte.

Their record places them 1 1/2 games ahead of the competition atop the West and 3 1/2 games in front of the Northwest Division-leading Jazz.

New Orleans is coming off Sunday's 108-96 victory over the Golden State Warriors.

Paul, who recorded his fourth career triple-double with 16 points, 13 assists and 10 rebounds in the win, added five steals to further improve his MVP resume.

Utah enters the contest on a three-game winning streak after its 90-64 rout of the San Antonio Spurs on Friday, to improve to a NBA-best 35-4 at home.

However, that mark has been offset by the team's lackluster 16-22 record on the road, where they have dropped two straight.