Hornets vs Clippers Game Recap 11/09/09 Video

LOS ANGELES (NBA.com exclusive) -- New Orleans Hornets coach Byron Scott may have found the right combination. Scott added a new member to the starting lineup for the second consecutive night Monday and it paid off with a 112-84 victory against the Los Angeles Clippers at Staples Center.

Devin Brown, who took over as the Hornets' starting shooting guard Sunday against the Los Angeles Lakers, matched his career-high with 25 points before taking the fourth quarter off. Peja Stojakovic moved into the starting frontcourt against the Clippers and contributed 12 points; including eight in the opening quarter when the Hornets took a lead they never surrendered. "We were knocking shots down," Brown said. "If we can do that, with our defense, with the way we run, we're going to be pretty good."

Brown, in his eighth year, averaged 5.2 points and just under 14 minutes as a reserve last season. After the Hornets dropped 10 of their last 13 games in 2008-09, Brown entered the offseason vowing to regain his starting role.

"I told coach going into the summer that the way we ended the season, I said, 'You know what, I'm going to come back ready and if I have that opportunity to start, I just want to make the most of it.'" Brown said. The Hornets (3-5) were able to end Chris Kaman's streak of scoring 20-plus points at six games. Kaman, who was named Western Conference Player of the Week earlier in the day after averaging 24.3 points and 9.7 rebounds last week, finished with 14 points and six rebounds.

"We had guys try to do too much by themselves," said Clippers coach Mike Dunleavy.

Brown and Stojakovic looked comfortable from the start, converting 6-for-8 from beyond the 3-point line in the opening quarter and combining for 20 points to help the Hornets to a 35-28 advantage. They made two 3-pointers each during a 12-0 run that gave the Hornets a nine-point lead with 6:09 left in the first quarter. The Clippers (3-5) never drew within four points the rest of the game.

As a team, the Hornets shot 9-for-13 from 18 feet and beyond during the opening quarter. They also displayed an inside presence as forward David West scored off three offensive rebounds. West finished with 17 points and nine rebounds.

Brown and Stojakovic's early success from the perimeter allowed the Hornets to fall back on defense and opened lanes for point guard Chris Paul, who finished with 24 points and 10 assists as the Hornets defeated the Clippers for the 10th consecutive time.

"Devin Brown did an outstanding job of filling the lane and he made shots," Paul said. "On those nights when you can actually make shots it gives your defense an opportunity to step up."

The Clippers kept themselves within striking distance by shooting 61.9 percent from the floor in the first quarter, but they cooled off in the second, shooting 7-for-22. Paul, meanwhile, began to heat up, scoring 11 points in the second quarter to extend the Hornets' lead to 60-46 at the half.

"He is one of the toughest covers in the league," Dunleavy said. "He's very good in transition and he can pick you apart when you let him get out in the open court."

The Hornets had been outscored 61-30 in the third quarter of its previous two games, but they scored the first seven points coming out of halftime against the Clippers to take a 67-46 lead. They extended their lead to 31 points heading into the fourth.

"We defended pretty well," Paul said. "Anytime you defend well, it gives you the opportunity to win. That's been our biggest issue so far this season."

The Clippers also started with a different lineup, but their change was the result of a groin injury to Eric Gordon. Al Thornton returned to the starting lineup at small forward and Rasual Butler filled Gordon's spot at shooting guard. Butler, who was traded from New Orleans to the Clippers in the offseason for a conditional second-round draft pick in 2016, scored 14 points. Ricky Davis, who did not play in five of the Clippers' previous six games, added 14 points off the bench. The Clippers sustained another injury as backup forward Craig Smith left the game in the fourth quarter with a laceration to his right eye.