Hornets sting Mavs, lead 2-0
NBA WESTERN CONFERENCE PLAYOFFS

AP photo OUCH! - New Orleans guard Chris Paul (3) shoots over Dallas guard Jason Kidd in the first half of Game 2 in the first round of the NBA basketball playoffs series on Tuesday. The Hornets won big, 127-103, and took a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven-game series. Game 3 is in Dallas on Friday night.

NEW ORLEANS (AP) - Dirk Nowitzki skipped out to the perimeter, joining Jason Kidd as they attempted to trap Chris Paul.

Paul promptly let them know they were in for long night, knifing into the lane on the dribble and dropping in a pretty floater.

As brilliant as Paul was in his playoff debut last weekend, his encore was better.

Paul had 32 points and a franchise playoff-record 17 assists, leading New Orleans to a 127-103 victory over the Dallas Mavericks on Tuesday night that gave the Hornets a 2-0 lead in their first-round series.

The old record was 15 assists, set by Muggsy Bogues in 1993.

"Sitting there watching Chris really develop into the best point guard in this league, it's amazing to watch how he's really risen his game to another level," Hornets coach Byron Scott said. "But that's what great players do. He's definitely one of the best on this league right now."

The series shifts to Dallas for Games 3 and 4 (Friday night at 7 p.m. and Sunday night).

David West scored 27 points and Peja Stojakovic 22 for New Orleans, which took a double- digit lead in the second quarter, led by as much as 25 in the third and never looked back.

Tyson Chandler had his second doubledouble of the series with 10 points and 11 rebounds, despite playing with foul trouble. Morris Peterson added 12 points and reserve guard Jannero Pargo had 10 for New Orleans, which was 10-of-18 on 3-pointers, with Stojakovic hitting 5-of-7.

"They were going to try some gimmick stuff " against Paul, West said. "It was key that we had the confidence with the ball out of his hands for us to make plays. Peja hit shots, Mo was able to hit some shots. It really disrupted what they were trying to do."

The good news for the Mavericks is that the Hornets have not won in Dallas since January 1998. But that streak will end if the Mavericks don't figure out how to slow down Paul and a supporting cast that has been playing with enormous confidence since the Hornets stormed back from a 12- point hole to win the series opener.

"We'll take a look at some things, but we've got to have a better effort," Dallas coach Avery Johnson said. "We've got to go home and get some home cooking. ... They protected their home court; we have a chance to go home and do the same thing. Like I've been saying all along, they are a No. 2 seed that deserves to be No. 2 and we've got to play much better."

Nowitzki led Dallas with 27 points, but spent most of the night looking frustrated, yelling at no one in particular after he threw one pass out of bounds. Brandon Bass was another bright spot for Dallas, muscling inside for 19 points. Reserve Jason Terry added 16 points and Josh Howard scored 10.