NBA: New Orleans 94, Denver 81

NEW ORLEANS, Jan. 29 (UPI) -- Peja Stojakovic touched off a 12-point run with 9 minutes to play Wednesday and New Orleans pulled away for a 94-81 victory over Denver.

The game was tied at 70-70 when Stojakovic made the jumper that started the Hornets' surge. Denver could not score again until Chauncey Billups made a layup with 5:37 to go, by which time the Hornets had built an 82-70 advantage.

New Orleans climbed within two games of San Antonio for the lead in the Southwest Division.

Stojakovic made 10-of-14 shots from the field and led New Orleans with 26 points. Devin Brown added 18.

Denver, which had a three-game winning streak snapped, got 22 points from Kenyon Martin and 20 from J.R. Smith.

The teams had split their two previous meetings this year.