Phoenix, AZ (Best E Casino) - Chris Paul poured in 42 points, and Peja Stojakovic hit the game-winning jumper as time expired in the second overtime period, pushing New Orleans past Phoenix, 132-130, in a battle of the top two teams in the Western Conference, on a night when the Suns announced the acquisition of Shaquille O'Neal from the Miami Heat.

Stojakovic took an in-bounds pass on the left wing with 3.2 seconds on the clock, and initially looked as though he may not even get an attempt off, as he was harassed by Amare Stoudemire. But Stojakovic then put up a prayer, an off-balance jumper over the top of a fully-extended Stoudemire. The jumper fell, as did Phoenix, while New Orleans improved to 13-0 in overtime, dating back to Dec. 9, 2005.

Still, the spotlight was shining on the Suns, who, before tip-off, held a press conference to confirm the arrival of Shaq.

O'Neal needed to undergo a physical before the deal became official. He flew to Phoenix on Wednesday for tests on his ailing left hip -- an injury that has forced him to miss the last two weeks. He was in attendance Wednesday night at the US Airways Center, observing his new teammates in action. Suns head coach Mike D'Antoni and team general manager Steve Kerr indicated O'Neal will make dramatic improvements.

"They're very progressive in their rehabilitation," Kerr said of the team's medical staff. "They felt very strongly he's going to be more mobile and explosive than what he has been because he's going to be part of our program that Grant (Hill) is part of and that Steve (Nash) is part of. That was the only way I was going to feel comfortable with it."

With O'Neal, the Suns receive a 14-time All-Star who wears four championship rings. He owns a career scoring average of 25.6 points per game, the ninth- highest in league history, and ranks 11th all-time in scoring with 25,908 points in 1,013 career games.

Despite an impressive past, O'Neal's 2007-08 season has been mired by injury and otherwise disappointing performance. In just 32 games this season, he is averaging a career-low 14.2 points along with 7.8 rebounds. O'Neal turns 36 in March, and has two years left on his contract after this season, earning $20 million in each of the next two years.

"We decided to make this move based on our feeling because it gives us a better chance to succeed in the playoffs," Kerr said. "We felt this was a great opportunity. As soon as it came our way, I went into Mike's office and said, 'What do you think?' and he smiled. He was excited as anybody."

In exchange for O'Neal, the Suns sent forward Shawn Marion and guard Marcus Banks to Miami. The 6-foot-7 Marion is a four-time All-Star and is averaging 15.8 points and 9.9 rebounds this season.

"(Shaq) is not going to come to Phoenix and lay an egg," D'Antoni said. "He is focused and ready to roll. He wants to show the world and show all the pundits that that's a great trade."

With the outcome of Wednesday's double-overtime thriller, it was quite apparent the Suns are in need of O'Neal's presence in the post. Phoenix has won in just three of 11 matchups this season with the Western Conference's top six teams.

New Orleans, now 33-15, are tied atop the Southwest Division with Dallas. Phoenix, meanwhile, is pacing the entire Western Conference, at 34-15.

Paul distributed nine assists and nabbed a career-high eight steals to go along with his 42-point output for the Hornets, who broke out of a three-game losing skid. Stojakovic tallied 26 points on 12-of-19 shooting from the field, helping New Orleans improve to a conference-best 17-7 on the road.

Jannero Pargo provided 22 points, and David West scored 21 while reeling in 13 rebounds. Pargo and West combined to convert all 11 of their free throw attempts. New Orleans has won all three matchups against Phoenix thus far this season. The Hornets host the Suns on Feb. 27 in the final meeting of the campaign.

Steve Nash recorded 32 points and handed out 12 assists, but also had 10 turnovers for Phoenix, which has dropped two of its last three outings. Stoudemire finished with 26 points, 20 boards and four blocks, marking his third career 20-20 game. Despite the effort, the Suns slipped to 17-6 as the host.

Boris Diaw and Leandro Barbosa added 22 points apiece, both with some efficient shooting. Diaw made 11-of-16 attempts from the field, and Barbosa connected on 4-of-5 three-pointers. Raja Bell chipped in with 11 points.

"It was unbelievable," exclaimed Hornets head coach Byron Scott. "One thing I told our guys at halftime: you can never relax when you play Phoenix. We've got to make sure, on the weak side, we're in a defensive position, ready to react, and no lead is too big. You've just got to make sure you finish the game out."

The score was even, at 106-106, when Nash broke open the tie game, coming off a high screen to stroke another three-pointer. Phoenix had the edge, 109-106, with just over a minute left in regulation.

On the other end, Paul proceeded to convert a three-point play, and again the squads found themselves in a dead-heat, 109-109, with less than a minute to play.

After Nash nailed a jumper to put the Suns on top, 111-109, the Hornets took a timeout, and Stojakovic emerged with the game-tying jumpshot with 30 seconds on the clock.

Both clubs had an opportunity to win the contest in regulation, but an errant pass from Nash and a failed jumper by Paul led to the extra period, with the squads deadlocked at 111-111.

The first overtime featured four lead changes, though New Orleans had a four- point advantage, 122-118, with just 15 seconds left. A Barbosa three-pointer brought Phoenix within one with 11 seconds to go, but the Suns were forced to foul, sending Pargo to the stripe, where he knocked down a pair to extend the Hornets lead to 124-121 with eight seconds showing on the clock.

Phoenix called a timeout, advancing the ball downcourt, and Barbosa found Nash wide-open at the top of the arc, where he drilled the three-pointer to force a second overtime stanza.

Another pair of Pargo free throws increased the New Orleans lead to 130-127 with 14 seconds remaining in double-overtime. On the opposite end of the floor, Stoudemire took a desperation shot from beyond the arc, but Grant Hill grabbed the offensive rebound and spotted Barbosa, who got an open look at a three-pointer. Barbosa drained it, and the battle was once again locked up at 130-130, setting up Stojakovic's dramatic finish.

"Well, obviously it was a great game, and I thought we played as hard as we could play and made some big shots and could have, in certain circumstances, win the game, but it didn't (happen)," explained D'Antoni. "But, give them credit; Stojakovic hit that last one -- and that was a tough one. Some good things (took place), (but) we're just not quite there, and we'll try to get some wins here."

The Hornets trailed by two points before ripping off an 11-0 run shortly before the conclusion of the first half. Paul highlighted the burst, notching nine straight points. West's jumper at the 1:08 mark finished the flurry, and New Orleans took the lead, 59-50.

Another jumpshot from West with just four seconds showing on the clock gave the Hornets a 63-55 advantage heading into the locker room.

New Orleans struck first out of the break, but then Phoenix responded, using a 10-2 burst to pull within a bucket. Stoudemire and Hill each netted four points, and Nash hit a layup that cut the deficit to 67-65 with 9:18 remaining.

The Suns had the edge, 80-79, when the Hornets had an 8-2 spurt to end the third quarter. Paul drained a jumper with two seconds to go, and New Orleans carried an 87-82 cushion into the final frame.

Early in the fourth period, Phoenix used a 7-0 scoring streak to close the gap to one point. A Diaw jumpshot left the Suns behind, 92-91, at the 8:36 mark.

With 4:09 remaining, Nash buried a bucket from beyond the arc, and the battle was knotted at 102-102.

Game Notes

The Hornets are 21-2 when eclipsing the century-mark in scoring this season...Nash moved into 19th place all-time in assists, passing John Lucas and current Sacramento head coach Reggie Theus, with 6,455 assists...It was the 97th consecutive capacity crowd at the US Airways Center...Despite the three previous defeats this season, Phoenix is 11-4 in the last 15 matchups with the Hornets...The Suns are 1-1 in overtime games this season. The win came at home, against the Indiana Pacers...This was the Suns' first double- overtime since March 14, 2007, at Dallas...Phoenix will hold a press conference Thursday to introduce O'Neal. There is no timetable for his return to the court.