Paul wound up with 27 points, seven assists and six rebounds for the Hornets, who scored 16 of the game's final 19 points. Tyson Chandler had 14 points and 12 rebounds for New Orleans, which held a 12-point halftime lead but had to rally to win for the sixth time in eight games this season.

Richard Jefferson had 32 points, but went scoreless in the fourth quarter for the Nets, who failed to hold on to an 11-point lead with under five minutes to play. Jason Kidd added 14 points, 10 assists and nine rebounds for New Jersey.

The Hornets trailed by 11 points late in the final quarter, but closed the game with a 16-3 run.