West, Paul Fend Off Frisky Pacers

David West led all scorers with 35 points as New Orleans began a six-game Eastern road trip by defeating Indiana, 114-106. The Pacers kept it close, cutting the lead to two points with 4:30 to play; they then scored just two baskets for the rest of the game. Chris Paul added 31 points and 14 assists for New Orleans.

The surprising Hornets, winners of four straight, stayed tied with the Lakers for the top seed in the Western Conference, while the loss kept the Pacers 1 1/2 games behind the Hawks, the East's eighth seed. "We're a hungry basketball team. We're trying to prove people wrong," asserted West. (More NBA stories.)