NBA roundup: Chris Paul returns to action in Hornets' big win

NEW ORLEANS — Chris Paul's first appearance in 25 games coincided with one of New Orleans' most impressive victories this season.

The way Marcus Thornton, David West, Morris Peterson and Darren Collison performed, the Hornets might have won without their All-Star point guard.

Thornton scored 28 points, West added 25 points and 10 assists, and the Hornets had a remarkable run of 23 straight points without Paul on the floor in a 115-99 triumph over the Dallas Mavericks on Monday night.

"We won. I was just happy to get out there on the court," Paul said. "I wasn't worrying about scoring or anything like that. I just wanted to try to get the feel back and get the win."

Returning from a left knee injury, Paul started but Hornets coach Jeff Bower limited his playing time to 21 minutes. Paul finished with 11 points and three assists.

"I asked, 'Could I play more,' but they was like, 'No, no way,'" Paul said. "It was like I had a cell phone. At halftime, I kept telling the guys I only had 12 minutes left. That's all I had left on my daytime minutes."

Paul helped New Orleans pull away in the fourth quarter as they ended a three-game skid, but Collison, his rookie backup, ran the offense when the Hornets had their 23-0 run from late in the second quarter until early in the third to take a lead they would not relinquish.

"It was great having CP out there even though he didn't play a lot," Thornton said. "Just having him out there being a floor leader was great. We fed off that.

SUNS 133, WARRIORS 131: At Oakland, Calif., Amare Stoudemire scored 37 points, Jason Richardson had a season-high 34, and Phoenix held off Golden State for the Suns' fifth straight victory. Reggie Williams, an NBA Development League product who was signed for the remainder of the season on Monday, scored a career-high 29 points for Golden State. Monta Ellis led the Warriors with 30, and Anthony Tolliver added 25 points and 12 rebounds.

HEAT 99, NETS 89: At East Rutherford, N.J., Dwyane Wade had 27 points and 12 assists, and the Miami Heat continued their good play in March with a victory over the free-falling New Jersey Nets. Jermaine O'Neal added 25 points as the Heat improved to 8-3 in the month that has seen them climb to sixth place in the Eastern Conference. Michael Beasley added 16 and Carlos Arroyo 12.