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National Basketball Association
BOXSCORE | RECAP
New Orleans 109, Phoenix 97
When: 8:00 PM ET, Friday, April 8, 2011
Where: New Orleans Arena, New Orleans, Louisiana
Officials: #24 Mike Callahan, #51 Leroy Richardson, #65 Sean Wright
Attendance: 14950

Willie Green scored a season-high 31 points and sparked a fourth-quarter surge as the New Orleans Hornets posted a 109-97 home victory over the Phoenix Suns on Friday night.

Trevor Ariza added 21 points and Chris Paul delivered 12 assists for the Hornets (46-33), who shot 55.6 percent in winning their third straight. New Orleans remained one-half game behind Portland for sixth and a game ahead of eighth-place Memphis -- the Blazers and Grizzlies were also victorious Friday.

Green made all six shots for 16 points in the first half and finished 12 of 17, including 5 of 6 from behind the arc, and six points shy of his career high.

Jared Dudley had 18 points and seven rebounds for the sinking Suns (38-41), who played without Steve Nash and have dropped seven of nine.

In a first half in which the teams combined to shoot 55 percent, Green and Ariza scored four points apiece during an 8-2 closing run that provided the Hornets a 59-53 lead.

The Hornets went up 14 early in the third, but the Suns got within six entering the fourth before Green went to work again. The shooting guard drained three 3-pointers and a pair of jumpers during a blitz that pushed the edge back to 19 with five minutes left.
Top Game Performances
 
Phoenix   New Orleans
Jared Dudley 18 Scoring Willie Green 31
Aaron Brooks 9 Assists Chris Paul 12
Jared Dudley 7 Rebounds Trevor Ariza 8
Aaron Brooks 5 Free Throws Made Emeka Okafor 4
Vince Carter 3 Steals Trevor Ariza 3
Vince Carter 1 Blocks Emeka Okafor 2
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Points FG% 3PM-3PA FTM-FTA Assists Rebounds Blocks Steals Turnovers
Phoenix 97 50.0 6-16 19-24 19 36 3 7 15
New Orleans 109 55.6 8-15 11-18 31 37 5 10 12
Upcoming Games
  • New Orleans will play their next game on the road against Memphis. The Hornets have a W/L % of .622 after a win and .529 after a loss.
  • Phoenix will play their next game on the road against Dallas. The Suns have a W/L % of .447 after a win and .512 after a loss.