Hornets top Cavs, stay unbeaten

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Chris Paul had 24 points and 15 assists, and the New Orleans Hornets remained perfect on the young season with a 104-92 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Saturday night.

David West added 25 points and James Posey scored 15 to go with his trademark clutch late-game defense.

Posey stole the ball from LeBron James and drove in for a breakaway dunk in the fourth quarter, then hit a 3-pointer as the shot clock wound down to put the Hornets (3-0) up 96-85 inside the final three minutes.

Zydrunas Ilgauskas led Cleveland (1-2) with 18 points, while James finished with 15 points and 13 assists.

During pregame introductions, the locally popular Rebirth Brass Band played and cheerleaders bopped around the court waving handkerchiefs as if in a second-line parade, while an overflow crowd of 18,150 for the Hornets’ home opener showered the team with cheers and chanted “M-V-P!” for Paul.

Starters Tyson Chandler and Peja Stojakovic waved to the crowd wearing street clothes, however.

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