Basketball: Warriors lose seventh consecutive game

NEW ORLEANS - Chris Paul scored 20 points and the New Orleans Hornets handed the Golden State Warriors their seventh straight loss, 108-102 on Wednesday night.

Emeka Okafor had 10 points and 14 rebounds for New Orleans, which trailed late in the third quarter before surging ahead for good with a 13-2 run. David West scored 14 points and Peja Stojakovic had 13 for the Hornets.

Monta Ellis scored 35 and Corey Maggette had 22 points and 10 rebounds for undermanned Golden State, which used only seven players because of injuries.

Stephen Curry added 17 points and 10 rebounds for the Warriors, who were within 104-102 in the final half-minute before Paul delivered a crushing turnaround fadeaway with 12.6 seconds left.

Golden State center Anthony Randolph, a former LSU standout, had 12 points, eight blocked shots and eight rebounds. His spinning dribble drive and tough layup in traffic gave the Warriors a 79-76 lead late in the third quarter.

Paul's jumper then ignited the key run that vaulted New Orleans back in front, with reserve forward Darius Songaila scoring six points during the surge, including one tough basket after twice rebounding his own misses.

That was one of many possessions in which the Hornets dominated the boards. New Orleans outrebounded Golden State 52-38 and the Hornets had 18 offensive rebounds.

Ellis started one last Golden State comeback when he blew past Paul on a drive, soared past defenders in the lane and hooked in a short floater that he appeared to release behind his head. Ellis added two more driving layups and Anthony Morrow's 3-pointer got Golden State back to 96-94.

New Orleans led 103-100 and appeared ready to finally put it away when Paul suddenly lost his touch from the free-throw line in the final minutes. After he missed a pair, Curry nearly tied it when his 3-point attempt rattled out. Paul was fouled on the other end and missed another free throw, but made his second, putting New Orleans up 104-100 with 39 seconds left.

Ellis' free throws cut it to 104-102 with 36 seconds to go. Then Paul delivered the knockout blow by backing into the post on the dribble and hitting his 12-foot turnaround fade with a second left on the shot clock. Golden State was unable to recover as Ellis' 3 missed and the Hornets' Bobby Brown grabbed the long rebound.

Golden State shot 57 percent (24 of 42) in the first half, when Ellis scored 23 of his points on 10 of 13 shooting. Yet the Warriors never led by more than six and were unable to pull away because they allowed New Orleans to grab eight offensive rebounds, leading to a 15-2 Hornets advantage in second-chance points through the first two quarters.

Golden State's lead was only 56-54 when Stojakovic's free throws tied it late in the second quarter. Paul then hit an 8-foot fade to put New Orleans up 58-56 at halftime.

NOTES

Randolph blocked six shots in the first quarter.

The Warriors entered the game first in the NBA in fast-break points with 22.7 per game. They had 33 against the Hornets.

The Hornets have won nine of 10 at home and are 11-3 at home overall.

Paul has double-digit points in all nine games since returning from his left ankle sprain.

The Hornets scored 100 points for the first time in 11 games.