Clippers-Hornets Preview

By KATE HEDLIN
Posted Mar 22 2012 12:51AM

Chris Paul was the face of the New Orleans Hornets for six seasons, including the tumultuous period following Hurricane Katrina.

Paul will try to put what figures to be an emotional return to New Orleans to face his former team quickly behind him when he and the Los Angeles Clippers attempt to avoid a season-high third straight loss Thursday night.

The Hornets took Paul with the fourth overall pick in the 2005 draft, and saw a 20-win improvement the following season.

They made the playoffs three times with Paul, including in 2007-08 - the franchise's first season back in New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina. However, the Hornets couldn't take the next step to become true title contenders, winning only one playoff series during that stretch. Last season, they lost in six games to the Los Angeles Lakers in the first round.

That, combined with the tenuous situation of the franchise, led Paul to tell the organization he wouldn't sign an extension.

Trying to receive some compensation for the four-time All-Star, New Orleans traded Paul to the Los Angeles Clippers in December after a deal to the Los Angeles Lakers was shot down by NBA Commissioner David Stern.

"New Orleans took me in as one of their own from Day One," Paul said at his introductory press conference with Los Angeles. "I want you guys in New Orleans to know you'll always have a special place in my heart."

It's already been a tough week for Paul. Thursday is the finale of a back-to-back-to-back stretch for the Clippers, who have lost each of the first two games and seven of their last 11 overall.

After failing to reach 90 points in two straight games, Los Angeles (26-20) barely reached that mark in a 114-91 loss at Oklahoma City on Thursday. It was the eighth straight game in which the Clippers failed to reach the century mark.

Blake Griffin was held to a career-low seven points while shooting 3 of 11. Paul finished with 13 points and shot 3 of 12 from the floor.

Paul is averaging 15.4 points over his last seven games - a significant decrease from his 20.3 mark over his first 34 games as a Clipper.

"It's getting to be a little bit embarrassing," Paul said. "A couple losses here and there and we're out of the playoffs. So we've got to play with a sense of urgency. But most of all, we've got to be better."

The slump has left Los Angeles - which held the Pacific Division lead earlier this month - tied for fifth in the Western Conference and only two games ahead of ninth-place Utah.

The Clippers may be catching a break Thursday, as Paul's former team has lost four of five and owns the worst record in the conference.

New Orleans (13-35) has dropped its last five home games, including a 101-92 loss to Golden State on Wednesday.

Jarrett Jack led the Hornets with 17 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds for his first career triple-double, but it wasn't nearly enough.

"This usually doesn't happen with this team, but we didn't compete tonight," coach Monty Williams said.

With Paul on the other side of the rivalry, the Hornets could have a tough time continuing their dominance of the Clippers. They have won 15 of the last 16 overall meetings between these teams and eight in a row at home.

Hornets beat Clippers 97-90 in Paul's return to NO

Posted Mar 23 2012 12:34AM

NEW ORLEANS (AP) Chris Paul wanted out of New Orleans for a better chance to win. In his first trip back, he received a mix of a cheers and boos, and left with a loss.

Chris Kaman scored 20 points and the Hornets rallied for a 97-90 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers on Thursday night, spoiling Paul's return. Jarrett Jack and Jason Smith each scored 17 as New Orleans snapped a five-game home losing streak.

"There was a lot of emotions going through my head," Paul said. "But as soon as they threw the ball up, all of that was out the window."

The Clippers were held to 11 points in the fourth quarter as they shot 4 for 23 from the field. Los Angeles also missed its last 19 3-point attempts.

After trailing throughout the first three quarters, the Hornets went ahead with an 11-2 run at the start of the fourth and led the rest of the way.

"We just wanted to come out there and play aggressive, no matter if they got a dunk," Smith said. "They're going to get highlight dunks and highlight this and highlight that."

Blake Griffin had 21 points for Los Angeles, which has lost three in a row for the first time this season. Paul, who forced a trade from New Orleans before the season, added 16 points on 5-for-14 shooting.

"There's frustration, there's no question," Clippers coach Vinny Del Negro said. "But, hey, you've got come ready to play every night and you can't take plays off."

Jack, Paul's replacement as the starting point guard in New Orleans, put the Hornets ahead for the first time, 80-79, with a jumper in the lane. After the Clippers tied the score at 81, Xavier Henry hit a fall-away buzzer-beater to put New Orleans ahead for good, Smith dunked off a beautiful bounce pass from Greivis Vazquez and Smith sank an outside shot to give the Hornets a six-point lead.

The game took an ugly turn with 4:06 left when Smith body-slammed Griffin to the floor on a fast break. Paul followed Smith into the concourse behind the basket and had words with him as several players jawed at each other.

"It was a terrible foul," Paul said. "I don't know what Jason was thinking. He probably better be ready to sit out a game or two for that one. I'm just glad Blake controlled it."

Smith was assessed a flagrant 2 foul, which carries an automatic ejection, but left the court to a loud ovation.

"I think it looked a lot worse than what it was, but that's still not a play that you ever want to do to another player like that," Smith said. "I apologize to Blake Griffin. I didn't want to hurt him at all. I just wanted to try and cut off his lane to the basket."

Griffin hit both free throws, but the Clippers failed to score on the ensuing possession and never caught up.

Typical of their frustration, DeAndre Jordan shot an air ball from three feet that turned into a shot clock violation with the Hornets leading 93-89. Griffin cut the gap to 93-90 on a free throw with 54.2 seconds left, but Randy Foye missed a 3 that would have tied it on Los Angeles' next possession.

Marco Belinelli's two free throws with 14.9 seconds left sealed if for New Orleans.

Paul, a four-time All-Star with the Hornets, drew a mixed reaction. He was greeted with cheers and boos in the introductions. A tribute that ran on the video screens above the court at the end of the first quarter - focusing on his off-court projects with kids in New Orleans - drew a loud ovation, and he waved his acknowledgement while standing in front of the Clippers' bench.

But fans cheered again when he picked up his third foul late in the second quarter and even started screaming "Beat L.A.," a chant normally reserved for the Lakers.

Paul needed only 16 seconds for his first assist, a pass to Randy Foye for a 3-pointer. He had three assists on the Clippers' first four baskets and also scored on a driving layup and a wide open 3-pointer from the top of the key in the first 8 minutes.

That was part of the Clippers' 35-point outburst - the most points the Hornets have allowed in the first quarter all season - and Los Angeles led by six. They had three dunks, including one by Young over Smith immediately after Smith blocked a dunk attempt by Jordan.

But the Clippers slowed down dramatically from there, failing to score 100 points for the ninth consecutive game. Paul had five assists in the open quarter and only four more the rest of the way. He also did not have a rebound.

"We came out with a lot of energy, but playing hard is not going to win it in this league," Paul said. "You have to play effective, you've got to play smart, we've got to play better."

Jack outscored him by 1 and matched his nine assists.

NOTES: This was the only game the teams will play in New Orleans this season. They meet two more times, both in Los Angeles. ... The Hornets shot 71 percent in the first quarter. ... Clippers guard Mo Williams was carried off the court with a left big toe injury in the second half. Hornets starting forward Trevor Ariza left in the third quarter with a sore right ankle and did not return. ... Actor Samuel L. Jackson, in town for the filming of a Quentin Tarantino movie, announced the starting lineups.

Notebook: Hornets 97, Clippers 90

Posted Friday March 23, 2012 12:06AM

By Larry Holder, for NBA.com

THE FACTS: It wasn't Chris Paul getting back at his former teammates. It was Chris Kaman getting back at his former team. Kaman scored a team-high 20 points and added 10 rebounds as the New Orleans Hornets defeated the Los Angeles Clippers 97-90 on Thursday night in the New Orleans Arena. It was the first time Paul, who had 16 points and nine assists faced his former team since being traded right before the season.

QUOTABLE: "If I knew, I'd tell you. One of them is that we have play more effective, be smarter and different things like that. Ain't nobody going to feel sorry for us. We've got Memphis next on Saturday. We have to be ready. ... It was all about just getting a win. We need a win to see what it feels like, but we lost so it is what it is."
-- Paul on how to fix the Clippers as the team lost all three games in this back-to-back-to-back stretch.

THE STAT: The Clippers fell off the map on the fourth quarter. Los Angeles only scored 11 points in the final 12 minutes after going into the fourth quarter with a three-point lead over the Hornets.

TURNING POINT: The Hornets had already come back to take the lead in the fourth quarter after trailing by as many as 13 points earlier in the game. But the Hornets have a bad habit of giving leads away. They didn't Thursday and Jason Smith's dunk off of a nice bounce pass across the lane in transition from Greivis Vasquez with 7:26 left in the game put New Orleans up 85-81. The Hornets never relented.

QUOTABLE II: "I apologize to Blake Griffin. That's something you never want to do to another player, especially a caliber player like Blake. He's a phenomenal player. I just didn't want to give an easy lay-up. There's a ton of better ways to go about that. I apologize to him. That's just not what I'm all about. I never want to hurt a player or anything like that. I just want to make sure he didn't get an easy layup."
-- Smith on his flagrant two foul on Griffin in the fourth quarter. Griffin was down on the floor briefly after being basically tackled by Smith, but Griffin stayed in the game and had 21 points and 11 rebounds.

HOT: The Hornets as a team had their best shooting performance of the season as New Orleans shot 57.6 percent. New Orleans also had a decided free-throw advantage as it went 27-of-34 from the line. Kaman was probably the hottest of all of his teammates going 9-of-13 shooting.

NOT: Clippers backup guard Randy Foye probably should have stopped shooting after his first missed shot. Foye went 1-of-14 from the field for only three points in nearly 24 minutes.

INSIDE THE ARENA: Actor Samuel L. Jackson introduced the starting lineups for both teams. It's the second time this season an actor introduced the teams in the New Orleans Arena as Will Ferrell did so earlier in the season against the Bulls.

NOTABLE: Clippers guard Mo Williams injured his left big toe in the fourth quarter and came off the floor very slowly. X-rays on the toe were negative, but head coach Vinny Del Negro said Williams will need an MRI to determine the severity of the injury. ... Hornets head coach Monty Williams didn't sound too optimistic that forward Carl Landry would be able to return this week as previously hoped as his sprained MCL still isn't fully healed. ... Smith and guard Jarrett Jack each had 17 points for the Hornets.

UP NEXT: For the Clippers, Saturday vs. Memphis, Monday vs. Phoenix, Wednesday vs. Portland. For the Hornets, Saturday vs. San Antonio, Monday @ L.A. Clippers, Wednesday @ Golden State.

• Clippers: Billups
• Hornets: Gordon

• Clippers: Evans
• Hornets: Kaman

• Lead Changes: 1
• Times Tied: 1

• Arena: New Orleans Arena, New Orleans, LA
• Officials: #23 Jason Phillips, #75 Eric Dalen, #7 Kevin Fehr
• Attendance: 17209
• Duration: 2:30