NBA : Hornets sting

Chris Paul had 33 points, 12 assists and nine rebounds to lead the host New Orleans Hornets to a 112-108 overtime victory over the Dallas Mavericks on Saturday night.

Peja Stojakovic hit a game-tying 3-pointer with 2.9 seconds left in regulation to allow the Hornets to avoid losing their 22nd straight to the Mavericks, a streak that dated to November 1999.

Stojakovic finished with 22 points, while Tyson Chandler added 21 points and 13 rebounds.

Jannero Pargo scored 11 points, hitting several crucial shots late in the game.

He hit a pair of key baskets to help the Hornets’ erase a five-point deficit in the final three minutes, then opened scoring in overtime with a 3-pointer that seemed to give the Hornets the momentum they needed to pull out the victory.

David West scored 11 points and grabbed 14 rebounds for New Orleans, which won its second straight and snapped Dallas’ two-game winning streak.

Josh Howard, Jason Terry and Dirk Nowitzki scored 19 points apiece for Dallas, while Jerry Stackhouse added 18.

Nets 94, 76ers 92 (OT): At East Rutherford, N.J., Vince Carter came off the bench to score 24 points, and New Jersey ended a five-game home losing streak with an overtime victory over Philadelphia.

Jason Kidd scored 19 points for New Jersey.

Richard Jefferson had 23 and Antoine Wright 15.

Andre Iguodala paced the 76ers with 24.

Both teams had trouble scoring in overtime until they got to the foul line in the final minute. Iguodala made two free throws with 2.8 seconds remaining to cut the Nets’ lead to 93-92. On the inbounds, Kidd lofted a long pass downcourt to Carter, who was immediately fouled by Iguodala. Carter made one from the line, leaving the 76ers a final desperation shot, a long-range miss by Willie Green.

Pistons 117, Bucks 91: At Milwaukee, Tayshaun Prince scored 20 points and Detroit beat the Bucks, who have now lost four straight.

Chauncey Billups added 18 points and nine assists, Rasheed Wallace had 15 points and 10 rebounds, and reserve Jason Maxiell scored 13 points.

Bobby Simmons and Charlie Villanueva led the Bucks with 13 points.

Wizards 101, Raptors 97: At Washington, Caron Butler scored 29 points, Antawn Jamison had 28, and the Wizards beat Toronto in a game in which each team was missing its best player.

Butler went 10 for 18 from the field and added seven assists. Jamison was 11 for 18 and had 14 rebounds for the Wizards, who broke a two-game losing streak.

The Wizards improved to 5-4 without Gilbert Arenas, who is out several months with a knee injury, while Toronto is 1-1 without Chris Bosh, who did not make the trip because of a strained right groin.

“The Wizards retired Earl “The Pearl” Monroe’s No. 10 jersey at halftime. Monroe was drafted in 1967 by the Baltimore Bullets – the Wizards’ predecessor – and played for the franchise until 1971.

Grizzlies 109, Timberwolves 80: At Memphis, Tenn., Rudy Gay scored 21 points, Mike Miller added 18 points and a season-high 14 rebounds, and the Grizzlies beat Minnesota.

Memphis had six players in double figures to win for the third time in four games. The Wolves were held to their lowest point total of the season and have lost eight of nine.

Bulls 111, Bobcats 95: At Chicago, Ben Gordon scored 34 points, Luol Deng added 29, and the Bulls beat Charlotte to win consecutive games for the first time this season.

Ben Wallace grabbed 19 rebounds and added 10 points for the Bulls. The Bobcats have dropped five straight after an impressive start.

Kings 107, Rockets 99: At Sacramento, Calif., Ron Artest and Kevin Martin each scored 26 points, and the Kings spoiled former coach Rick Adelman’s return to Arco Arena by beating Houston.

The Kings took the lead for good with a strong third quarter and withstood a Tracy McGrady-led charge by Houston. McGrady scored 28 of his 40 points in the second half..