"Hornets Coach Monty Williams, intimately acquainted with the Portland Trail Blazers' personnel, had one primary concern about the team for which he was an assitant coach for five years before coming to New Orleans this summer: depth.

"They have a lot of guys who can play," Williams said. "A lot of teams have eight for sure guys they can play, but they have 11 guys that can play on that active roster. And they know how to make adjustments in-game.

"And they're well-coached. And they've been together for a while. That's something you can't account for, the experience they have together. You can see the way they play now. They know where they're supposed to be."

But Williams, always humble. wouldn't think to brag on his own team's depth.

Although it seemed forward Peja Stojakovic had one foot out the door just a week ago, he regained relevance with 11 points off the bench, including a critical 3-pointer with 7:43 to go in the game that pushed the Hornets' lead to 89-75.

"As I said, I'm just being a pro," Stojakovic said of his demeanor during the time he has been inactive. "It's nothing in my hands. I can stay pro like I've always been, and I don't know what else to say."