Suddenly-surging Hornets sting Suns

For one game, at least, the New Orleans Hornets survived without Chris Paul.
Darren Collison’s poise and Peja Stojakovic’s sharp shooting provided the 1-2 punch the suddenly-surging Hornets needed to pull out a surprising 110-103 victory over the visiting Phoenix Suns last night.

The victory was the Hornets’ second-straight under new head coach Jeff Bower, who took over when Byron Scott was fired last week.
“It’s still the regular season [but] for us it was a very important win,” said Stojakovic, who hit seven three-pointers during a 25-point, 13-rebound performance.
“We are too good to quit. We have good talent on this team and you can’t give up,” he stressed.
“We did struggle in the beginning of the season,” he admitted. “Hopefully we can just raise our level of playing and get some consistency.”
Starting in place of the injured Paul, who is out indefinitely with a left ankle sprain, Collison turned the ball over only once in 32 minutes.
He also shook off a 1-of-11 start from the field and drained a 26-foot three-pointer with 2:11 to go, then added a driving finger roll in the final minute to finish with 15 points.
“The most important thing when you’re having a tough shooting night is try to get the win, and the second thing is always keep your confidence,” said Collison, a first-round draft choice out of UCLA.
“You can never let your confidence get away from you in a game like that.
“If a team’s playing off you and you’re open, go ahead and shoot it,” he reasoned.
Devin Brown and rookie Marcus Thornton each scored 19 points, meaning both Hornets’ rookies finished in double figures.
Amare Stoudemire had 23 points and Jared Dudley, who was 5-of-6 on three-pointers, netted 17 for Phoenix.
Channing Frye added 11 points and 10 rebounds.
Phoenix (10-3) was trying to match its best 13-game start in franchise history and was in position to do so when Stoudemire’s dunk and short jumper gave the Suns a 92-91 lead.
But Stojakovic put New Orleans back in front with his sixth three-pointer and the Hornets never trailed after that, gaining a measure of revenge for their 20-point loss in Phoenix eight nights earlier—a result that proved to be Scott’s final game as coach.
“They were embarrassed by the way they performed at our place,” Suns’ coach Alvin Gentry began. “You knew they were going to play better here. No doubt in my mind.
“Chris Paul or no Chris Paul, it doesn’t matter. . . . They made some big shots at the right time.”
Elsewhere in the NBA, San Antonio beat Utah 90-83 and the L.A. Lakers dumped Chicago 108-93.