Chris Paul had 24 points, 15 assists and 11 rebounds, and the New Orleans Hornets held on for a 99-94 victory over the Dallas Mavericks last night to win their first-round series in five games.

David West scored 25 for New Orleans and Jannero Pargo had 17, while Tyson Chandler had 10 points and 14 rebounds.

Dirk Nowitzki led Dallas with 22 points and 13 rebounds, and Devean George added 11 points in the fourth quarter as Dallas nearly pulled off an improbable comeback. The Mavs cut a 17-point deficit to three in the final seven minutes before Peja Stojakovic hit a pair of free throws to seal it with 5.7 seconds left.

Tempers flared near the end, and Jerry Stackhouse was ejected for a second technical foul with 1:47 left after slapping the ball out of Paul's hands during a stoppage in play, then getting in a face-to-face standoff with West.

Dallas never led and was hurt badly by an 11-1 Hornets run after Nowitzki's free throw had pulled the Mavs to 73-66 early in the fourth quarter.

Dallas played solid defense on New Orleans' next possession, keeping the ball on the perimeter, but Pargo hit a deflating three at the shot clock buzzer.

While the crowd was celebrating what eventually became the first playoff series win by an NBA team representing New Orleans, Dallas regrouped and stormed back. The Mavs got as close as 97-94 after Brandon Bass, who had 11 points, hit two free throws with 33 seconds left.

HOUSTON - Tracy McGrady scored 29 points and Luis Scola added 18 points and 12 rebounds Houston staved off elimination by routing Utah in Game 5 of their first-round series.

Dikembe Mutombo grabbed 10 rebounds as the Rockets cut their series deficit to 3-2.

Now, the Jazz can end the series at home, where they went 37-4 during the regular season. But it's no guarantee - Houston was the first team to beat Utah in Salt Lake City during the regular season and won Game 3 there last Thursday.

The Rockets did everything they hadn't done for most of the series. They shot well, hit their free throws, and got valuable production off the bench.

The Jazz, meanwhile, endured their worst offensive performance of the season, setting a season-low point total by eight. They shot 36.5 percent (27 of 74), went 2 for 9 from three-point range and 13 for 23 from the free throw line. They also committed 18 turnovers and were outrebounded by 46-38.

Carlos Boozer led Utah with 19 points and 10 rebounds, while Deron Williams had 13 points and six assists.

Spurs 92, Suns 87

SAN ANTONIO - San Antonio outlasted Phoenix to eliminate the Suns in five games.

Tony Parker led the Spurs with 31 points and Tim Duncand added 29 as San Antonio overcame an off night by Manu Ginoboli.

Shaquille O'Neal had 13 points as his season came to an early end only months after Phoenix gambled big by trading for him. Steve Nash scored 11.