NEW ORLEANS — Chris Paul stole the ball and rocketed the other way, spinning a one-handed floater off the glass as he was fouled, then slapping the padding under the basket with both hands in celebration.

Paul had 27 points, 15 assists, 10 rebounds and seven steals for his league-leading fifth triple-double of the season, and the New Orleans Hornets defeated the Philadelphia 76ers, 101-86, last night.

It was the second time this season Paul came within a few steals of a quadruple double, but when asked about that, he could only critique the few times he mishandled the ball or unloaded an errant pass.

"A couple more turnovers and I would have had whatever you call five," Paul said.

Peja Stojakovic highlighted a 26-point performance with six 3-pointers.

Thunder 94, Nets 85: Kevin Durant scored nine of his 18 points in the third quarter, when host Oklahoma City outscored New Jersey 31-14. The Thunder treated a crowd estimated at 5,000 to the team's 10th win of the season. Icy weather held the Ford Center well below the 18,000-plus who had attended the first 23 home games.

Knicks 104, Rockets 98: Wilson Chandler responded to being taken out of the starting lineup with 18 points, and host New York beat Houston. Al Harrington replaced Chandler in the starting lineup after Chandler had averaged just 3.3 points over his previous three games.

Suns 103, Wizards 87: Shaquille O'Neal had no problem with back-to-back games at the end of a road trip, scoring 29 points as visiting Phoenix wrapped up a six-game East Coast swing with a win over Washington. O'Neal went 10 for 14 from the field, 9 for 10 from the free-throw line and had eight rebounds in 36 minutes.

Trail Blazers 113, Clippers 88: Brandon Roy scored 33 points on 11-of-15 shooting to lead visiting Portland over Los Angeles. The Blazers reeled off a 15-3 spurt in the first five minutes of the fourth to open a 92-76 lead.

Heat 95, Hawks 79: Dwyane Wade finished with 35 points and host Miami held Atlanta without a field goal for nearly 13 1/2 minutes during one first-half stretch. Atlanta set a franchise-futility record with its 27-point first half.

Timberwolves 90, Bucks 83: Al Jefferson had 23 points and 10 rebounds and Ryan Gomes added 22 points, lifting host Minnesota over Milwaukee. Randy Foye and rookie Kevin Love each added 12 points for the Timberwolves.

NOTES

Knicks: New York assured center Eddy Curry "to take the time that he needs" as he copes with the death of his former girlfriend and mother of his 3-year-old son, team president Donnie Walsh said yesterday. A relative found the bodies of Nova Henry, 24, and her 9-month-old daughter, Ava, in their Chicago apartment Saturday evening, according to police. Both died from multiple gunshot wounds. Curry's son was found unharmed at the scene.