Chris Paul played for the first time in 25 games, and Marcus Thornton scored 28 points to help the host New Orleans Hornets to a 115-99 victory over the Dallas Mavericks on Monday night.
Returning from a left knee injury, Paul started but was limited to 21 minutes and had 11 points. Paul, a former Wake Forest star, helped New Orleans pull away in the fourth quarter.
Rookie Darren Collison ran the floor when the Hornets had a run of 23 straight points from late in the second quarter until early in the third.
Also Monday
Heat 99, Nets 89: Dwyane Wade had 27 points and 12 assists as Miami beat host New Jersey.
Magic 109, 76ers 93: Rashard Lewis scored 24 points, and Dwight Howard added 23 points and 15 rebounds as visiting Orlando notched its third straight 50-win season.
Bucks 98, Hawks 95: John Salmons scored 32 points, including the tiebreaking free throws with 21.8 seconds remaining, as host Milwaukee scored a come-from-behind victory.
Spurs 99, Thunder 96: George Hill scored a career-high 27 points, and San Antonio overcame Kevin Durant's 45 to beat host Oklahoma City.
Bulls 98, Rockets 88: Derrick Rose had 27 points for host Chicago.
Raptors 106, Timberwolves 100: Chris Bosh had 21 points and 10 rebounds as Toronto handed host Minnesota its 13th straight loss.
Late Sunday
Lakers 99, Wizards 92: Kobe Bryant scored 20 of his 24 points in the second quarter as Los Angeles sent host Washington to its 11th straight loss.
Notes
Battier sprains knee: Houston forward Shane Battier, a former Duke star, missed the Rockets' game against Chicago and is expected to be sidelined at least 10 days with a sprained left knee.
The prognosis came after Battier underwent an MRI on Monday morning that revealed the sprain.
Warriors for sale: The Golden State Warriors are for sale, and Oracle Corp. CEO Larry Ellison has said he wants to buy the team.
