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Hornets close out visit to Florida with Orlando

Dec 20, 2006 - 3:41 PM New Orleans (10-13) at Orlando (16-10) 7:00 pm EST

ORLANDO, Florida (Ticker) -- The New Orleans Hornets close out their two-game trip to Florida against the Orlando Magic on Wednesday.

The Hornets absorbed a 101-99 loss to the Miami Heat on Monday after Dwyane Wade hit a bank shot with 1.3 seconds left. It was New Orleans' third consecutive loss.

Chris Paul had 26 points, eight assists, six rebounds and three steals and Rasual Butler added 21 points against his former team for the Hornets, who blew a nine-point lead in the closing quarter.

The Magic ended a three-game losing streak with an 81-74 defeat of the Cleveland Cavaliers on Saturday. Grant Hill scored 21 points and Dwight Howard added 14, 16 rebounds and five blocks.

Darko Milicic had 12 points for Orlando, which outscored Cleveland, 26-8, in the second quarter.

The Magic have won three of the last four meetings with the Hornets.