Chris Paul must have heard the "M-V-P" chants and certainly played like one with 23 points and a whopping 17 assists as the No. 1 team in the Western Conference, the New Orleans Hornets, crushed Denver 117-93, reports AP. The Hornets had six players score in double-figures, including Tyson Chandler, who dominated the battle of the centers against Marcus Camby.
New Orleans' backup center, Melvin Ely, was just as dominant, with 16 points in just 23 minutes. In winning its ninth straight, Byron Scott's crew put together two separate 12-0 runs, fueled by some dazzling passing from its star point guard. Denver was missing All-Star Carmelo Anthony, out with an ankle injury, and couldn't keep up despite Allen Iverson's 23 points. (More NBA stories.)