NEW YORK - The New Orleans Hornets beat the Golden State Warriors 97-93 to win their second home opener in three days and continue their perfect start to the season on Tuesday.

New Orleans Hornets guard Chris Paul (3) goes past Golden State Warriors guard Monta Ellis, left, in the second half of an NBA basketball game Tuesday, Nov. [AP]

Forced to split their home games between New Orleans and Oklahoma City because of the damage caused by Hurricane Katrina, the Hornets beat the Houston Rockets in the Big Easy on Sunday before downing the Warriors in front of a capacity crowd of 19,164 in Oklahoma.

The Hornets improved to 4-0, joining the Utah Jazz as the NBA's only unbeaten teams.

Chris Paul paced the Hornets with a 22-point, 11-assist performance while Peja Stojakovic chipped in with 18, including the go-ahead three-pointer with just 1:35 left in the fourth quarter.

David West (16 points and 11 rebounds) and Tyson Chandler (10 points, 14 rebounds) each contributed double-doubles to the New Orleans cause, helping the Hornets to their first 4-0 start to a season in franchise history.

Baron Davis had 22 points for the Warriors in the loss.

*Jermaine O'Neal scored 16 points and pulled down 11 rebounds as the Indianapolis Pacers handed the 76ers their first loss of the season 97-86 in Philadelphia.

*Dwyane Wade poured in a game-high 31 points to spark the Miami Heat to a 90-87 victory over the Seattle SuperSonics in south Florida.

The NBA champion Heat were without Shaquille O'Neal, who missed his second straight game with a bruised left knee.

*In Cleveland, Joe Johnson scored 25 points, including six straight in overtime, powering the high-flying Atlanta Hawks to a 104-95 victory over the Cavaliers and their third consecutive win.

*Andrew Bynum dropped in a career-high 20 points and Kobe Bryant chipped in with 17 to lead the Lakers past the Minnesota Timberwolves 95-88 for their fourth win in five games.