Hornets 87, Rockets 74

HOUSTON (AP) Devin Brown had 18 points, 7-rebounds and 5-assists to lead the New Orleans Hornets to an 87-74 victory Saturday night over the bad-shooting Houston Rockets.<br/> <br/>Tyson Chandler had

Saturday, February 3rd 2007, 10:08 pm

By: News On 6

HOUSTON (AP) Devin Brown had 18 points, 7-rebounds and 5-assists to lead the New Orleans Hornets to an 87-74 victory Saturday night over the bad-shooting Houston Rockets.

Tyson Chandler had 11 points and 12 rebounds, Chris Paul had 12 points with 9-assists, and the Hornets won for the ninth time in 13 games. Paul shot 4-12 in his third game back after missing 17 with a sprained right ankle.

Tracy McGrady scored 18 points to lead the Rockets, who had a four-game winning streak snapped. Houston shot 37 percent (29-78) and matched season lows for points in a 1st- quarter (15) and 1st-half (30).

The Hornets also outrebounded the Rockets 49-36 and scored 20 points off Houston's 12 turnovers.

New Orleans led 17-15 after an ugly first quarter marked by the ejections of Rafer Alston and Desmond Mason and a wrist injury to McGrady.