Paul's late basket lifts Hornets over Nets

EAST RUTHERFORD, New Jersey: Chris Paul made the tiebreaking layup with 2.6 seconds left and finished with a season-high 27 points, leading the New Orleans Hornets over the New Jersey Nets 84-82 in the NBA on Monday.

Paul added seven assists and six rebounds in his marquee point-guard matchup with Jason Kidd. He had another huge play shortly before his basket, coming up with a steal and finding Morris Peterson, who converted a four-point play to tie it with a minute left.

Tyson Chandler had 14 points and 12 rebounds for the Hornets, who won on consecutive nights following their first two losses of the season.

Richard Jefferson scored a season-high 32 points for the Nets, but he was shut out in the fourth quarter after a huge third. Kidd finished with 14 points, 10 assists and nine rebounds.

New Jersey played without Vince Carter, who sprained his ankle on Saturday and is out indefinitely.

In Denver, Allen Iverson scored a season-high 37 points and J.R. Smith added 29 to help Denver beat Cleveland 122-100.

Iverson finished 14-for-20 from the field and added eight assists, and Carmelo Anthony had 22 points and nine rebounds as the Nuggets won their third straight.

LeBron James led Cleveland, which was playing the second game of a back-to-back, with 27 points. Ira Newble added 17 points for the Cavaliers.

Iverson scored 18 in the first half and came out shooting to start the third quarter. He scored 11 points in the first 5 minutes of the half, including two 3-pointers as the Nuggets (5-3) built a 78-51 lead. The Nuggets led 88-68 heading into the fourth quarter.

In Salt Lake City, Carlos Boozer had 32 points and 10 rebounds for his seventh double-double of the season and Utah beat the short-handed Sacramento 117-93.

Andrei Kirilenko added 15 points, eight rebounds, eight assists and three blocks for the Jazz, who won their fourth in a row.

The Kings played without three of their starters and were out-bounded 41-32 while committ 19 turnovers.

John Salmons led Sacramento with 22 points.

Agencies

(China Daily 11/14/2007 page22)