Paul broke Alvin Robertson’s NBA mark - which stood since 1986 - when he deflected and quickly corralled an attempted pass by Tony Parker late in the second quarter.

David West scored 21 points for New Orleans, hitting a pair of late 3s to help erase a seven-point deficit in the last 5 minutes of the game.

Parker led San Antonio with 20 points, and Tim Duncan had 16 points and 11 rebounds.

Paul got a brief rest to start the fourth quarter before checking back in with 8:50 to go and New Orleans trailing 74-67. Soon after, he converted a layup while getting fouled on a ball fake while he hung in the air. He then used a crafty bounce pass to set up West for an open jumper that pulled New Orleans to 75-72 with 6:25 to go.

Those plays sparked a 23-8 Hornets run to close out the game. The Spurs, who lead 74-65 after Manu Ginobili’s driving layup early in the fourth quarter, did little else to help themselves offensively the rest of the period, when they shot 19 percent (4-of-12).

Tyson Chandler had 10 points and 11 rebounds and gave the Hornets the lead for good with a pair of free throws with 2:13 to go. On the Spurs’ next possession, the Hornets got a stop and took off on the fast break, which Rasual Butler converted when he put back James Posey’s miss. Posey then hit a 3 to make it 85-79 with 1:06 to go and San Antonio did not threaten again.

Butler finished with 13 points for the Hornets, who needed him to produce with Peja Stojakovic sidelined by back spasms.

Manu Ginobili was 3-of-4 from 3-point range and had 17 points and nine rebounds for San Antonio but was neutralized for the last 10 minutes of the game.

San Antonio hit nine of 26 3-pointers (34.6 percent), but the Hornets responded with 7-of-17 shooting (41.2 percent).