Chris Paul became the first player in NBA history to start the season with 20 points and 10 assists in six straight games as the New Orleans Hornets recorded a 100-89 victory over the Miami Heat. With his team nursing a seven-point lead midway through the fourth quarter, the star point guard scored eight straight points down the stretch to hold off Miami and help the Hornets to end a two-game losing streak.
Paul finished with 21 points, 13 assists, seven rebounds and four steals as he passed the mark held by the Hall of Famer Oscar Robertson. LeBron James scored 41 points against the Chicago Bulls for the second time this week to lead the Cleveland Cavaliers to a 106-97 victory. James, who also had 13 rebounds and four assists, buried a clutch three-pointer with 1:29 to play that gave the Cavaliers a crucial six-point edge. Zydrunas Ilgauskas scored 16 points and Anderson Varejao added 13 for the Cavs, while Ben Gordon led Chicago scoring with 29 points.
Dwight Howard collected 31 points and 16 rebounds as the Orlando Magic cruised to a 106-81 victory over the Washington Wizards, who remain winless after suffering their fifth straight loss and allowing over 100 points for the fourth straight game. Danny Granger scored 23 points, Troy Murphy had 17 and Jeff Foster added 12 and 13 rebounds to help the Indiana Pacers blitz the short-handed New Jersey Nets in a 98-80 victory.
Shaquille O'Neal collected 29 points and 11 rebounds, Amare Stoudemire had 24 and Steve Nash added 16 and seven assists for the Phoenix Suns, who beat the Milwaukee Bucks 104-96. * PA Sport