NBA: New Orleans 104, LA Clippers 98

LOS ANGELES, April 2 (UPI) -- Chris Paul took over down the stretch Wednesday in carrying New Orleans to a 104-98 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers.

Paul scored eight points in the final 3 minutes and grabbed a key defensive rebound as well, boosting the Hornets within a game of San Antonio for the top spot in the Southwest Division.

New Orleans, winners of three in a row, also climbed into a tie with Portland for the fifth seed in the Western Conference.

Paul, who finished with 30 points, gave the Hornets a three-point lead with a layup at the 2:38 mark. After Eric Gordon hit a 3-pointer for the Clippers to tie it, Paul assisted on Devin Brown's layup that gave New Orleans the lead for good.

Following a Los Angeles free throw, Paul hit a jumper with 1:17 to play for a three-point cushion, grabbed a rebound off a missed Los Angeles shot with 55 seconds left and converted a layup with 50 seconds to go for a 100-95 advantage.

After Zach Randolph brought the Clippers within two with a 3-pointer, Paul hit two free throws with 16 seconds left. Randolph's missed 3-point try with 10 seconds left sealed the Clippers' fate.

Gordon led Los Angeles with 25 points and Randolph had 24.