NEW ORLEANS — Where the Hornets would be without four-time All-Star Chris Paul is anyone’s guess.

With him, they’ve become a major headache for the two-time defending champion Los Angeles Lakers, who won’t get out of the first round of the playoffs without playing at least six games and taking another trip back to the Big Easy.

Paul had 27 points, 15 assists and 13 rebounds, and New Orleans held on for a 93-88 victory Sunday night that evened their first-round playoff series against the Lakers at 2-2.

“He’s maybe 6 feet and he had 13 rebounds,” said Hornets swingman Trevor Ariza, who added 19 points. “He played unbelievable. He’s made our team go all year. He’s carried us when we were down.”

Paul played with his left hand wrapped in a black bandage because of a jammed thumb. Later in the game, he received a cut above his right eye. His hustling all-court game, however, was about as attractive as it gets as he recorded his first triple-double of the season.