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NBA: Hornets send Rockets to second loss after 22 wins

Houston Rockets guard Tracy McGrady, left, drives on the New Orleans Hornets during the first quarter of their NBA game at the New Orleans Arena in New Orleans, Louisiana, on Wednesday. PHOTO: EPA

Former Houston swingman Bonzi Wells helped New Orleans hand the Rockets their second straight loss after a 22-game winning streak, scoring 20 of his 25 points in the fourth quarter in the Hornets' 90-69 victory on Wednesday night.

David West, returning from a right ankle sprain that sidelined him for two games, had 23 points and 11 rebounds to help New Orleans (46-21) pull a half-game ahead of the Rockets for the Southwest Division lead and even with the Los Angeles Lakers atop the Western Conference.

Tracy McGrady scored 15 against New Orleans, well below his nearly 22-point-per-game average.

Chris Paul had 21 points and 10 assists for the Hornets, who extended their home winning streak to eight while ending the Rockets' 12-game winning streak on the road.

Luis Scola had 14 points and nine rebounds before fouling out with three minutes left. Shane Battier also scored 14, while Dikembe Mutombo and Rafer Alston each scored 10. Tyson Chandler grabbed 15 rebounds for New Orleans, which overcame a 14-point first-half deficit.

Suns 110, SuperSonics 98

At Seattle, Steve Nash scored 23 points, Amare Stoudemire dominated inside with 26 points and Phoenix overcame a season-high 27 turnovers to win its season-best sixth straight.

Jeff Green led Seattle with 19 points, and Kevin Durant and Luke Ridnour both scored 16.

Cavaliers 89, Pistons 73

At Cleveland, LeBron James scored 30 points, moving closer to becoming Cleveland's top career scorer, and the Cavaliers beat Detroit in the Pistons' first visit to Cleveland since losing Game 6 of last year's Eastern Conference finals.

Zydrunas Ilgauskas added 20 points and Wally Szczerbiak 10 for the Cavaliers, the defending Eastern Conference champions.

Rasheed Wallace scored 16 points and Richard Hamilton 14 for the Pistons, who were held to 63 fewer points than they scored in a 136-120 win over Denver on Tuesday.

Warriors 116, Clippers 100

At Los Angeles, Stephen Jackson scored 29 points, Monta Ellis added 28 and Golden State tightened its grip on a playoff spot.

Golden State's ninth victory in 12 games, coupled with Denver's two-point loss at Philadelphia, increased the Warriors' lead over the Nuggets to 2{ games in the race for the eighth and final Western Conference playoff berth. Rookie Al Thornton had 24 points and 13 rebounds for the Clippers.

In other games it was:

* Raptors 96, Heat 54

* 76ers 115, Nuggets 113

* Nets 125, Hawks 117

* Wizards 87, Magic 86

* Pacers 102, Bobcats 95

* Timberwolves 98, Grizzlies 94
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