New Orleans Hornets Team Report - November 27

(Basketball News) - Baron Davis posted 26 points, eight assists and seven rebounds, as the Hornets ruined Paul Silas’ return to New Orleans with an 82-72 victory over his Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday.

Silas, the Hornets’ career leader in coaching victories, coached them for five seasons, but was fired just two days after the team was eliminated from the 2003 postseason. His Cavs stayed close in the first half of this one, but fell behind after the break.

David Wesley added 21 points for the Hornets and Jamaal Magloire chipped in 12 points and a game-high 11 rebounds, as New Orleans won for the sixth time in eight games, despite shooting just 39 percent from the floor.

New Orleans extended its six-point halftime lead to 12 points, opening the third quarter with an 8-2 burst. Magloire’s bucket near the 9:00 mark capped the spurt and gave the Hornets a 50-38 lead.

Cleveland cut its deficit to seven several times before the end of the third, but New Orleans ended the quarter with an 8-2 burst and carried a 66-53 advantage into the fourth.

The Cavs got no closer than seven points in the fourth quarter.

The Hornets are off until Saturday when they visit the New York Knicks.