Peja Stojakovic News

Coming into Wednesday night's New Orleans Hornets - Milwaukee Bucks game at New Orleans Arena, a rookie point guard was expected to shine.

When you looked at Anthony before the start of the season, you saw player now in his mid-20a TMs who had seen his shot attempts and scoring decline over the past three years.

Unlike in former New Orleans Hornets coach Byron Scott's system, which mostly involved Peja Stojakovic setting up on the wing before shooting, the 6-foot-10 small forward is now moving constantly around the perimeter and coming off screens to get open shots.

Clogging defense by the Miami Heat in the final 15.4 seconds of the game, after an answered prayer from Udonis Haslem, proved to be a streak-buster Sunday both for the New Orleans Hornets and the Heat.

TRYING EVERYTHING: Chicago Bulls forward Taj Gibson is defended by Denver Nuggets forward Kenyon Martin in the third quarter of their NBA basketball game in Denver.

Left for dead through the first two weeks of the season, the Chris Paul injury left the Hornets in desperate need of someone with even a minimal ability to create some offense.

NEW ORLEANS Maybe we all panicked too much too quickly. Maybe Jeff Bower knew a little bit more than we all gave him credit for.

Posted by John Paulsen You read that right: Peja Stojakovic . The Hornets are trying to stay competitive without Chris Paul, and Peja's 25-point, 13-rebound effort led New Orleans to a 110-103 win over the Pacific Division-leading Phoenix Suns.

Eight days ago, the New Orleans Hornets came to Phoenix and endured a good, old-fashioned beatdown from the Suns, 124-104. The next day, Hornets' management decided it was time for a change, and they fired head coach Byron Scott, who had a 203-216 record in 6 seasons, and was just two years removed from being the NBA's Coach of the Year.

David West had 24 points and 10 rebounds, and Jeff Bower picked up his first coaching win in the New Orleans Hornets' 110-102 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers on Tuesday night.

The New Orleans Hornets must move on now that All-Star point guard Chris Paul is sidelined indefinitely with a sprained ankle.

And the numbers didn't lie. The Phoenix Suns entered Wednesday night's game at US Airways Center the No.

Joe Johnson scored 26 points, Jamal Crawford added 21, and the Atlanta Hawks beat the New Orleans Hornets 121-98 on Saturday night for their fourth straight victory.

A red-hot Phoenix team returns to the Valley of the Sun Wednesday to take on the New Orleans Hornets.

Before conducting his first shootaround workout this morning, New Orleans Hornets Coach Jeff Bower said they will keep the same starting lineup for tonight's game against the Portland Trail Blazers as former coach Byron Scott used Wednesday night against Phoenix, but they will be looking to push the pace better offensively.

Two years ago, the New Orleans Hornets looked like a team on the rise in the NBA.

The Phoenix Suns scored 75 points in the first half before cruising to a 124-104 home rout of the New Orleans Hornets.

New Orleans Hornets forward Julian Wright didn't get the job done as a starter so far.

Chris Paul had 24 points and 10 assists on a sore ankle, Devin Brown scored 25 points and the New Orleans Hornets bounced right back from a blowout loss with a 112-84 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers on Monday night.

They were close to the top two seasons ago, now they look like a lottery team. I'm confused, is this the preseason or the season? And how do you tell the difference? The Lakers were without Andrew Bynum and Pau Gasol on Sunday night.