NBA – New Orleans Hornets mean buzz-ness! (+ video)

SAN ANTONIO (NBA) - Byron Scott and the New Orleans Hornets are for real!

That’s the lesson that can be drawn from Saturday’s action in the NBA, when the Hornets traveled to San Antonio and beat the defending champions Spurs 102-79 for their eighth consecutive win.

A team that moved its games to Oklahoma City last year because of the devastation of Hurricane Katrina, the Hornets are bringing smiles to the faces of everyone in the Big Easy.

"It's probably the biggest win we've had," said Hornets coach Scott, who is having his best season at the helm of a club since leading the New Jersey Nets to the NBA Finals in 2002 and 2003.

Their USA national team point guard Chris Paul had 17 points and 11 assists, winning his duel with San Antonio’s France international playmaker Tony Parker (17pts, 6 assists) while Serbian Peja Stojakovic made four of six shots from long range and scored 22 for New Orleans.

David West led the Hornets with 32 points and seven rebounds. The winners, who trailed 43-42 at half-time, out-rebounded San Antonio 41-31.

New Orleans now own the best record in the Western Conference at 31-12.

Pau Gasol didn’t play but the Memphis Grizzlies didn’t need him in a 125-120 win over the Los Angeles Clippers.

Juan Carlos Navarro, Gasol’s Spain teammate, did suit up and even started, playing more than 46 minutes and scoring 18 points on eight of 19 shooting, including three of eight from the arc. He was also five of six at the line.

Rudy Gay paced the Grizzlies (13-31), who played without Gasol for the second consecutive game because of back problems, with 34 points and 12 boards. The Clippers dropped to 13-27.

The Miami Heat finally won a game after 15 consecutive losses when defeating the Indiana Pacers 98-96.

Dwyane Wade of Team USA had 35 points as the Heat improved to 9-33 while Indiana dropped to 19-26.

In Saturday’s other game, Philadelphia (17-28) won 103-96 over the Charlotte Bobcats (17-27).

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