ATLANTA - Jannero Pargo scored 24 points and Rasual Butler added 21 to help the New Orleans Hornets end a five-game losing streak with a 96-77 victory over the listless Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday night.

New Orleans had dropped eight of nine and 19 of 23 before beating an Atlanta team that's lost two straight, 10 of 11 and 14 of 16.

Hawks coach Mike Woodson, in his third season with the team, is now 99 games under .500 at 49-148.

Joe Johnson was 6-for-24 from the field to finish with 13 points for Atlanta. Josh Childress, who took over at point guard after Speedy Claxton hurt his knee and missed the second half, had a team-high 19.

Pargo's straightaway 3-pointer with 2:24 remaining gave New Orleans its biggest lead at 96-69.

After going 5-5 on the road to start the season, the Hornets lost seven straight away from New Orleans and Oklahoma City.

In a matchup of the third-worst teams in the Eastern and Western conferences, New Orleans never trailed after Pargo's 27-footer made it 39-37 with 3:30 left in the second quarter.

The Hawks hit just four of 22 shots in the third quarter.

Butler's 12-foot runner over Johnson put the Hornets ahead 81-65 with 6:54 left in the game.