Trevor Ariza scored 18 points and Chris Paul collected 17 points, eight assists and six rebounds as the visiting New Orleans Hornets cruised past the Minnesota Timberwolves, 95-81, on Friday.

Jarrett Jack added 13 points off the bench and Emeka Okafor returned following a 10-game absence due to an oblique strain to pick up 10 points and seven boards for the Hornets, who were without leading scorer David West due to a death in the family.

The win keeps New Orleans in fifth place in the Western Conference playoff race.

The Hornets came out strong, knocking down five 3-pointers in the first quarter and shooting 57 percent in the opening half to take a 55-43 edge into the locker room. The Timberwolves briefly cut it to single digits in the third but New Orleans closed the frame on a 20-10 run to expand the lead to 79-61.

Wesley Johnson and Luke Ridnour scored 22 points apiece and Kevin Love pushed his double-double streak to 45 games with 11 points and 14 rebounds for Minnesota.