Paul had 28 points including 14 in the fourth quarter and 10 assists, helping to end the Suns’ four-game winning streak.

Peja Stojakovic added 23 points for the Hornets, Morris Peterson had 22, and Tyson Chandler and Jannero Pargo had 19 apiece. Chandler also had 11 rebounds.

Leandro Barbosa led Phoenix with 28 points, Steve Nash had 23 points and 11 assists, and Amare Stoudemire and Grant Hill each scored 17. Stoudemire’s string of four straight 20-10 games ended.

Suns coach Mike D’Antoni lamented his team’s poor play down the stretch.

“We didn’t make the big plays,” he said. “They made the big plays, big shots and big passes. They came up with big stops and big steals.”