NBA: New Orleans 102, Dallas 92

NEW ORLEANS, April 12 (UPI) -- Chris Paul's 31 points and 17 assists Sunday keyed the New Orleans Hornets' 102-92 win over Dallas on the back end of a home-and-home series.

Paul's string of six straight points gave New Orleans what turned out to be an insurmountable 81-78 lead with 6:39 left in the fourth period.

With nine rebounds, Paul finished one board short of his seventh triple-double this season.

David West scored 31 with six rebounds. Rasual Butler scored 13 with four rebounds and Peja Stojakovic added 11 points and six rebounds for the Hornets, who had lost four of five.

Sunday's victory put New Orleans in sole possession of sixth place in the Western Conference standings.

Dirk Nowitzki's 29 points and 14 rebounds paced Dallas. Josh Howard scored 15 with four rebounds, and Brandon Bass and Jason Terry scored 13 points apiece for the Mavericks, whose three-game winning streak ended.

Dallas trails the Hornets by one game.