Hornets News

Winning streak over for Lakers, who also lose Odom
"So, the Lakers aren't unbeatable in the cavernous confines of Staples Center, after all. So, they aren't without flaws. So, they aren't going to ride roughshod over the rest of the NBA for the remainder of this season. The New Orleans Hornets made that all obvious beyond a reasonable doubt. The Hornets rallied to defeat the Lakers 116-105 on Tuesday night, seriously damaging L.A.'s aura of invincibility in the process. The Hornets also ended the Lakers' six-game winning streak while handing them only their second home loss in 20 games. The Lakers also suffered an additional loss. Lamar Odom hyperextended his right knee late in the second quarter and did not return to the game. He will ..."
Lakers run into a buzz saw Alex Gallardo/Los Angeles Times) Kobe Bryant finished with 39 points but only two in the fourth quarter as the Lakers lost to the Hornets, 116-105.
"The Lakers lost another player, and then a game, ending their brief stay atop the other 29 teams in the league. Lamar Odom went down with a hyper-extended right knee Tuesday against New Orleans, joining teammates Jordan Farmar and Luke Walton on the injured list. The Lakers' six-game winning streak came crashing down as well, amid a flurry of Chris Paul and a dash of David West. Paul had 32 points and 15 assists, and West had 40 points and 11 rebounds as the Hornets won, 116-105, Tuesday night at Staples Center. The loss ended the Lakers' two-day run with the league's best record. They now share the top spot with Cleveland (27-6). Odom sustained his knee injury after banging into Paul ..."
Tall order
"Again it's those arrogant, talented guys bearing uniforms with an incongruous nickname, the club most Western Conference opponents love to dislike. For the hoping-to-contend Hornets, tonight's game at the Staples Center against the conference-leading Lakers, named when the team resided in Minnesota, Land of 10,000 Lakes, provides the third test this season against the best not only in the West but, arguably, in the NBA. New Orleans has failed the first two exams at the New Orleans Arena, but the Hornets know precisely the reasons for their miserable efforts: The Lakers, led by defending league MVP Kobe Bryant, are loaded. "The better teams in this league have guys like (Pau) Gasol, who ..."
TV hoop highlights make Kiwi snub rugby
"He emerged from the outback and is a class of one, the only man from New Zealand to play in the NBA, all because of a 30-minute, once-weekly highlight show that brought the athletic spectacle of pro basketball to his television set. The Hornets' Sean Marks was drawn in by 1980s superstars such as Magic Johnson and Larry Bird, which caused him to eschew the scrums of his country's national sport for one with more grace and less grit. "Basketball is not a huge sport there," said the 6-foot-10 forward. "Kids are definitely excited about it, but it's a small country where rugby is definitely the main sport, and you've only got 4 million people in the country, and they really get behind ..."
Nuggets swat Hornets
"It was the rout that wasn't. The Nuggets were primed to blow New Orleans out Saturday night at the Pepsi Center, leading by as many as 26 points in the third quarter. Not so fast. The Nuggets barely won, 105-100, after the Hornets had made a stunning comeback to take a 100-99 lead with 1:10 left on a three-pointer by forward James Posey. A driving layup by forward Carmelo Anthony gave the Nuggets the lead for good, at 101-100, with 56.5 seconds left. The Nuggets then got four straight free throws by guard Chauncey Billups to take a 105-100 lead with 22 seconds left. Anthony led the Nuggets with 22 points. Reserve guard J.R. Smith added 17. Guard Chris Paul led the Hornets with 30 points. ..."
NBA suspends N.O.'s Chandler
"The NBA suspended Hornets center Tyson Chandler for Saturday night's game against the Nuggets for striking Portland backup center Joe Przybilla in the neck with an elbow during Friday's game at The Rose Garden. In addition, the league fined Przybilla $7,500 for his role in the incident, and he was assessed a Flagrant Foul One penalty for hitting Chandler with a forearm to the chest. Under league rules, Chandler was not allowed to travel with the team to Pepsi Center for the game. Hornets Coach Byron Scott said Chandler stayed behind at the team hotel. The confrontation began Friday night during the third quarter after Chandler slapped Przybilla's hand away. Przybilla responded by ..."
Przybilla fined, Chandler suspended in fight aftermath
"The NBA on Saturday handed out additional punishment in the aftermath of the altercation that occurred during Friday night's game at the Rose Garden between Trail Blazers center Joel Przybilla and New Orleans Hornets center Tyson Chandler. Chandler, who was ejected from Friday night's game, has been suspended one game without pay for throwing an elbow and striking Przybilla in the neck. Przybilla has been fined $7,500 and assessed a flagrant foul for delivering a forearm to Chandler's chest. The two centers got into it with 6:16 left in the third quarter after Chandler slapped Przybilla's injured left hand when the two were on the block near the basket. Przybilla responded by driving his ..."
Losers, but not pushovers
"In the midst of a frustrating 92-77 defeat by the New Orleans Hornets and postgame rhetoric about offensive tempo, lackluster defense and when exactly is Trail Blazers All-Star Brandon Roy going to return, an unmistakable truth emerged Friday night at the Rose Garden: The maturing Blazers are growing tougher, more physical and more rugged each and every game. Win or lose, opposing teams are starting to discover that these baby Blazers are no longer pushovers. "Teams are trying to test us and we're standing up for ourselves," forward LaMarcus Aldridge said. "We've had enough." The most recent and obvious test of the season came Friday night when reserve center Joel Przybilla and Hornets ..."
Hornets finally break through in Portland
"With just more than six minutes remaining in the third quarter, Hornets starting center Tyson Chandler's night was finished. Just like last season when the Hornets lost their first game of the season at The Rose Garden, Chandler lost his composure and was ejected. This time it came after Chandler slapped Joel Pryzbilla's hand away from him. When Pryzbilla responded with an elbow, Chandler retaliated by throwing a punch. But the Hornets withstood not having Chandler with productive play from David West, James Posey, Chris Paul and Hilton Armstrong to carry them to a 92-77 victory Friday night. It was the first of a tough four-game road trip that resumes in Denver tonight. The Hornets ..."
Chandler's fouls key as N.O. hits road
"With a difficult four-game road trip starting tonight at Portland, Hornets center Tyson Chandler has been urged to play aggressively but stay out of foul trouble. Although Coach Byron Scott said solid performances must come from all of his players, he emphasized it for Chandler, who struggled in recent games against the Los Angeles Lakers and Orlando Magic. "Like I told Tyson, a couple of his fouls have been because of bad positioning," Scott said. "Guys all of a sudden catch him out of position and flash in front of him. Like many great defenders in our league, most of them think they c