(My Sportsbook) - Is it a surprise that the New Orleans Hornets are keeping up with the San Antonio Spurs and the Dallas Mavericks at the top of the standings in the Southwest Division?

The Hornets (25-12) are just one-half game behind the defending world champion Spurs and Dallas for the top spot in the division.

Starting point guard Chris Paul continues to amaze and is playing like an All-Star. The Wake Forest product leads the Hornets in scoring (21.7 ppg) and assists (10.4 apg). Paul is shooting 48.8 percent from the field, including 37.4 percent from beyond the arc.

Playing in his third season in the league, the 22-year-old Paul has scored in double-digits in 34 of the 35 games he has played in this season. He has collected 20 double-doubles and has scored 20 or more points in 18 contests.

Center Tyson Chandler, who has posted 12.1 points per game, is averaging a team-best 12.0 rebounds. The 25-year-old Chandler has registered 13.7 points and 13.3 rebounds in his last 10 outings. Chandler has six double-doubles during that span and 19 this season.

The Hornets are a perfect 14-0 when they reach the century mark this season, and 6-4 when their opponent scores more than 100 points.

New Orleans begins a five-game homestand when it hosts the slumping Seattle SuperSonics on Wednesday at New Orleans Arena. It is the third and final meeting of the campaign between the squads. The Hornets won the two previous contests and have won four in a row in the series.

Seattle has lost five straight after winning its last two at the Hornets.

New Orleans opens the homestand on a two-game winning streak. On Sunday, David West finished with 26 points and 12 rebounds to lead the Hornets over the Houston Rockets, 87-82, at the Toyota Center.

Paul scored 19 points and dished out 11 assists for New Orleans, which has won five of six and 10 of its last 12 games overall. Jannero Pargo netted 10 points off the bench for the Hornets.

The Hornets are 10-7 at home this season. They will also host the Charlotte Bobcats, Milwaukee Bucks, Portland Trail Blazers and the Los Angeles Clippers on the current homestand.