National Basketball Association
BOXSCORE | RECAP
Phoenix 104, New Orleans 102
When: 8:00 PM ET, Sunday, January 30, 2011
Where: US Airways Center, Phoenix, Arizona
Officials: #46 Matt Boland, #73 Ed Malloy, # Haywoode Workman
Attendance: 17921

Backup center Marcin Gortat scored 21 of his career-high 25 points in the second half as the Phoenix Suns held on for a controversial 104-102 victory over the visiting New Orleans Hornets on Sunday.

Chris Paul had 26 points and 12 assists for the Hornets (31-18), including six points in five seconds to make it 104-102 with 12 seconds left and set up a wild finish.

After the Suns turned it over on the ensuing inbound pass, Grant Hill blocked Marcus Thornton’s layup attempt with 3 seconds left and Paul’s one-handed 3-point try at the buzzer was off the mark.

Replays showed Hill’s block was goaltending.

Steve Nash had 15 assists and Hill scored 16 points for the Suns (22-24).

David West had 17 points and seven rebounds, and Trevor Ariza had 16 and seven for the Hornets (31-18), who have lost two straight since winning 10 in a row.

Hornets center Emeka Okafor left the game with 1:53 left in the first half with a muscle strain. Okafor doubled over in pain as he held his left hip area. He had 10 points and seven rebounds.

It was the second consecutive career-high game for Gortat, who scored 19 points in the Suns’ 88-71 victory over Boston on Friday.
Top Game Performances
 
New Orleans   Phoenix
Chris Paul 26 Scoring Marcin Gortat 25
Chris Paul 12 Assists Steve Nash 15
Marcus Thornton 10 Rebounds Marcin Gortat 11
Chris Paul 10 Free Throws Made Marcin Gortat 7
Trevor Ariza 2 Steals Steve Nash 2
Trevor Ariza 1 Blocks Channing Frye 3
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Points FG% 3PM-3PA FTM-FTA Assists Rebounds Blocks Steals Turnovers
New Orleans 102 42.1 6-16 16-19 21 47 3 5 8
Phoenix 104 48.1 9-25 19-21 26 43 6 3 13
Upcoming Games
  • Phoenix will play their next game at home against Milwaukee. The Suns have a W/L % of .476 after a win and .480 after a loss.
  • New Orleans will play their next game at home against Washington. The Hornets have a W/L % of .710 after a win and .500 after a loss.