West leads Hornets over Cavs

Associated Press

NEW ORLEANS

David West scored a season-high 34 points, and the New Orleans Hornets held Cleveland to 35 percent shooting and survived a late flurry to beat the Cavaliers 108-101 Friday night.

Cleveland, which trailed by double digits for the first 20 minutes of the second half, pulled within 104-101 on three free throws by Antawn Jamison with 21 seconds left. New Orleans’ Marco Belinelli hit two foul shots two seconds later, and Trevor Ariza stole the ball from Ramon Sessions to seal the victory.

Chris Paul contributed 15 points, 10 assists and six steals for the Hornets. Belinelli added 20 points, including 12 during a decisive 18-2 run at the end of the first half.

Jamison led the Cavaliers with 20 points off the bench. Fellow reserve Sessions scored 16.

The Hornets improved to an NBA-best 10-1. Cleveland lost for the first time in four road games under Byron Scott, who coached the Hornets for five full seasons and the first nine games last year before being fired with a 3-6 record.

Despite giving up 100 points for the first time this season, the Hornets won with defense. They held the Cavaliers to 4-of-23 shooting in the second quarter and zero field goals in the last five minutes of the first half.

In the most telling sequence, Cleveland center Anderson Varejao missed three contested shots right around the rim on the same possession. When New Orleans finally grabbed the rebound, Paul fed Belinelli for a wide-open 3-pointer that gave the Hornets a 50-41 lead with 3:09 left.

Belinelli stayed hot, sinking three 3-pointers and three free throws after being fouled attempting a fourth as the Hornets raced to a 62-43 lead at the half.

The second half started with more defense. New Orleans center Emeka Okafor blocked two shots by J.J. Hickson on Cleveland’s first possession. Later in the quarter, Paul deflected a pass, Ariza dove to save it from going out of bounds and ended up with a three-point play after being fouled while finishing a lob from Paul.

The Hornets led by double digits in the second half, but Cleveland pulled within 100-96 on a 3 by Anthony Parker, Varejao’s follow of his own miss and Jamison’s baseline jumper.

Cleveland point guard Mo Williams started after missing the previous two games with a strained left groin, but he was ineffective, finishing with eight points and two assists.