New Orleans, LA (Sports Network) – Chris Paul scored a season-high 33 points to go with 15 assists and seven rebounds in his return to the lineup, as the New Orleans Hornets used a big fourth quarter to down the Sacramento Kings, 115-103.
Paul had missed the last two games with a concussion for the Hornets, who have won four of five. David West donated 25 points and nine boards.
Carl Landry tallied 20 points off the bench for New Orleans, which took three of four from Sacramento this season. Marco Belinelli chipped in 12 points.
Marcus Thornton finished with 25 points and three steals against his former team, but the Kings dropped their sixth straight game. DeMarcus Cousins recorded 19 points and 11 rebounds.
Samuel Dalembert ended with 16 points and eight boards for Sacramento, which has lost five straight on the road. Francisco Garcia added 12 points in defeat.
New Orleans entered the fourth quarter down by one, 85-84, but started the period on a 23-5 run to pull away. Paul tallied nine points during the burst, which Emeka Okafor capped with a three-point play for a 107-90 lead with 4:16 remaining.
West made a running jumper a few minutes later to make it 113-95, and it was a double-digit game the rest of the way.
The Hornets ripped off five straight points late in the first quarter to grab a 29-22 lead on Landry’s slam with 38 seconds left. New Orleans held a 31-24 margin after 12 minutes.
Sacramento outscored the Hornets, 33-26, in the second stanza to make it 57-57 at the half.
Neither team led by more than five in the third quarter.