NEW ORLEANS — Chris Paul's surgical drive past the San Antonio defense ended with a high, razzle-dazzle dribble and a soft, floating shot off the glass as a packed crowd broke into a thunderous frenzy.

"These are some of the best moments, I think, of my life that we're experiencing right now," Paul said. "We're just riding a wave right now."

It's a wave that wiped out the Dallas Mavericks and is now crashing hard on the defending champion Spurs.

Paul had 30 points and 12 assists, leading the New Orleans Hornets to a 102-84 victory last night and a 2-0 lead in their best-of-seven, second-round series.

Peja Stojakovic made five 3-pointers and scored 25 points for the Hornets, who've won both games by wide margins in becoming the first team to put San Antonio in an 0-2 playoff hole since 2001, when the Spurs were swept by the Los Angeles Lakers in the Western Conference finals.

"We're definitely a little shocked," Spurs forward Kurt Thomas said. "You can't take anything away from them. They are playing extremely well. If one person's not going, someone else is stepping up."

Game 3 is Thursday in San Antonio.

Tyson Chandler had 11 rebounds and all of his five points, including an alley-oop dunk of Paul's lob, during a key stretch midway through the fourth quarter when the Hornets prevented San Antonio from getting within single digits.

Tim Duncan led San Antonio with 18 points and eight rebounds.

"It's just frustrating losing. That's the biggest thing," Duncan said. "They've obviously done an excellent job defensively, frustrating all of us with their double-teaming, with their shifting. ... It seems like they come the other way and they're not missing shots. That stacked on top of each other just makes the whole game very frustrating."

PISTONS 100, MAGIC 93

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. — The Detroit Pistons and Orlando Magic cut down the trash talk and just played, combining for a riveting playoff game.

Too bad a disputed play is what will be most remembered.

Chauncey Billups made the 3-pointer in question at the end of the third quarter and Detroit went on to beat Orlando last night, taking a 2-0 lead in their second-round series.

"It's tough to be on the other end of that play," said Billups, who scored 28 points. "But I'll take it."

Billups officially made the shot with 0.5 seconds left in the third after the clock froze at 4.8 seconds.

The possession started with 5.1 seconds as Billups dribbled in the backcourt and it appeared to take 5.2 seconds using replays the officials weren't allowed to use during a delay lasting several minutes.

The shot put Detroit ahead 78-76.

Lead official Steve Javie declined to be interviewed by a pool reporter, and ignored another reporter at the scorer's table shouting to speak with him after the game ended.

"They had to estimate how much time (was left) and they estimated 4.6 seconds," Orlando coach Stan Van Gundy said. "That's almost funny.

"What can you do? They were put in a very tough situation on that call."

The Magic still had a chance to win after trailing by 14 in the first half.

Orlando had the ball down by two points late in the game, but Rashard Lewis missed a running scoop shot with 14 seconds left, Dwight Howard just missed on a putback and Hedo Turkoglu couldn't grab the offensive rebound.

Magic reserve Keyon Dooling fouled Richard Hamilton before the ensuing pass was made from the sideline, giving Detroit a free throw — made by Hamilton — and the ball.

Billups then made two free throws to put Detroit ahead by five points with 10.9 seconds left.

Game 3 in the best-of-seven series is tomorrow night in Orlando.

ELSEWHERE

Suns: Phoenix granted permission for coach Mike D'Antoni to talk to other teams, with the Chicago Bulls and the New York Knicks apparently the leading suitors. General manager Steve Kerr confirmed yesterday that D'Antoni can speak with other NBA teams about coaching vacancies but indicated he still wants to persuade the coach to stay with the Suns.

MVP Award: The NBA has scheduled a news conference for today at a Los Angeles hotel, where the Lakers' Kobe Bryant is expected to be announced as winner of his first Most Valuable Player award.