Clippers drop 10th in a row

Rasual Butler scored a season-high 27 points, and the New Orleans Hornets handed the Clippers their 10th straight loss, 107-80 on Friday night.

Butler made six three-pointers against the Clippers, also a season high. The Hornets combined for 11 three-pointers in all and had seven players score in double figures.

Tyson Chandler had 13 points and 11 rebounds for the Hornets, dunking three times on alley-oop feeds from Chris Paul. James Posey had 16 points and Paul, who played only 29 minutes, had 10.

“They were hot from the start, hitting threes early and that was a big difference,” Clippers guard Eric Gordon said.

Gordon and Mardy Collins each scored 15 points for the Clippers, who have lost their last eight meetings with New Orleans. Marcus Camby had 13 points and 17 rebounds.

The injury-plagued Clippers continued to play without Baron Davis (bruised tailbone), Chris Kaman (foot) and Zach Randolph (left knee).

The Clippers (8-28) led only once, by two points early, and were down by double digits for much of the last three quarters.

“We had good effort, but we played last night and the back-to-back games get tough on you,” Clippers Coach Mike Dunleavy said. “We’re playing only seven or eight guys. . . . The Hornets are playing well together and Chris Paul is Chris Paul. Every year he’s going to be in the conversation for MVP.”

Steve Novak had 14 points for the Clippers, and Al Thornton and Brian Skinner each scored 11.

David West and Peja Stojakovic each scored 12 points for New Orleans (22-11), while reserve point guard Antonio Daniels had 10, his highest total since coming to the Hornets in a trade from Washington this season.

Butler’s two three-pointers and another three-pointer by Posey highlighted a 14-3 run to close out the third quarter, after which New Orleans led 87-67. With the Clippers showing no sign of threatening, Scott rested Paul for all but two minutes of the final quarter.