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Stojakovic's 42-point outburst leads Hornets past Bobcats

Nov 15, 2006 - 4:02 AM OKLAHOMA CITY (Ticker) -- Peja Stojakovic did more than just end the New Orleans Hornets' slide.

Stojakovic scored 22 of his career-high 42 points in the first quarter as the Hornets snapped their three-game skid with a 94-85 triumph over the lowly Charlotte Bobcats.

Stojakovic shot 15-of-22 from the floor, including 5-of-10 on 3-pointers, to top his previous career best of 41 points, which came as a member of the Sacramento Kings on December 23, 2003 against the Memphis Grizzlies.

"I came in aggressive, and our guys kept finding me," Stojakovic said. "I tried to keep a shooters' mentality, get open and make shots, that's what I do, and luckily for me and my team, those shots went in."

"He did everything for us. He rebounded, he came off screens, made steals," said Hornets guard Chris Paul, who handed out 10 assists. "He had an unbelievable all-around game."

The eight-year veteran finished with the third-best point total in franchise history behind Jamaal Mashburn (50) and Larry Johnson (44) on the all-time list.

The 6-10 swingman's first-quarter outburst set a club record, surpassing Baron Davis, who scored 21 points on October 31, 2001, when the team was located in Charlotte. Stojakovic made 7-of-7 shots, including 4-of-4 from the arc, and made all four free throws in the period.

"He came out on fire from the start, and you could see the determination in his face," Hornets coach Byron Scott said. "He just picked up it big time for us."

Stojakovic, who signed as a free agent in the offseason, scored on a fast-break layup and drained a jumper as the Hornets took an 87-82 lead with just over two minutes to go and were never really challenged thereafter.

"That's why we brought him (Stojakovic) here, to get open and make big shots," Scott said.

Hornets center Tyson Chandler grabbed 15 rebounds before leaving with 2:15 remaining with a mild concussion after running into Bobcats forward Sean May's elbow on a defensive rebound.

"It's going to be tough, especially going to Detroit and Minnesota," Stojakovic said of losing Chandler.

Reserves Bobby Jackson scored 14 points and Jannero Pargo chipped in 10 for the Hornets, who shot 40 percent (35-of-86).

Emeka Okafor had 25 points, 16 rebounds and a franchise-high seven blocks for Charlotte, which shot 45 percent (35-of-77) and dropped its fourth straight game.

"I didn't realize I had set a record, it was just another day," Okafor said. Coach (Bernie Bickerstaff) told me to clean up the glass and try to disrupt as much as I could, so that's what I did.

Bobcats third-overall pick Adam Morrison tied his career best with 21 points.

The Hornets played without forward David West, who will miss at least the next two contests with a strained right forearm. He is among the team leaders in points (17.4) and rebounds (8.3).