(Agencies)
Updated: 2008-02-14 16:09

MILWAUKEE - The Bucks opened the second half at the Bradley Center with a 14-4 run, but the Hornets recovered just in time, with a 3-pointer from forward Peja Stojakovic 15.1 seconds before the game ended.

New Orleans Hornets' David West gets past Milwaukee Bucks' Yi Jianlian, of China, during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Feb. 13, 2008, at the Bradley Center in Milwaukee. [Agencies]

The Hornets beat the Bucks 111-107 before a sparse-looking crowd of 14,317, giving New Orleans its fourth straight victory before the All-Star break.

Stojakovic's 3-pointer gave the Hornets a 109-107 lead and secured a win for the Hornets in a game with 15 ties and 17 lead changes.

The Bucks, losers of seven of their last eight, came back and took their first lead in over seven minutes when rookie Yi Jianlian, who had 13 points, hit an open 16-footer from the wing with 28 seconds to play to make it 107-106.

New Orleans, which has won four straight, answered when the Bucks' defense focused on Paul as Tyson Chandler screened Charlie Bell to free Stojakovic, who finished with 19 points on 7-of-11 shooting.

Michael Redd, who had 30 points, tried to answer, but missed an off-balance 3 and Paul grabbed the rebound with 5.8 seconds left to seal the win.

West had 22 points, while Chandler finished with 15 points and 16 rebounds. Paul added 10 assists, making the Hornets 16-1 when those two each go for double-doubles.

The Hornets, in the midst of their best start in team history at 36-15, are 16-4 since Jan. 1 and came into Wednesday night a half-game behind Phoenix for the Western Conference lead.

Already leading the Southwest Division, which includes defending champion San Antonio and Dallas, the Hornets have been one of the league's biggest surprises.

They've done it by following a championship blueprint perfectly so far this season with the Western Conference's best road record at 19-7 and a 22-4 mark against teams under .500 thanks to the efforts of Paul, Chandler and West.

Milwaukee is 0-3 in a four-game homestand that included blowing a 17-point third quarter lead against the Knicks, a meltdown against the Clippers on Monday and this latest effort.

The frustrations have piled up, leading first-year coach Larry Krystkowiak to say that the team was separating and needed to set aside personal agendas. While the Bucks played better, the Hornets proved it wasn't enough.