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Hornets kick off road trip in Sacramento

Nov 21, 2010 - 3:42 PM (Sports Network) - The surprising New Orleans Hornets will open up a four-game western road swing Sunday in California's capital against the Sacramento Kings less than 24 hours after making a rather significant trade designed to get the team under the NBA's luxury tax while also finding a capable backup for MVP candidate Chris Paul.

The Hornets acquired defensive-minded swing guard Jarrett Jack along with guard Marcus Banks and center David Andersen from Toronto for former All-Star Peja Stojakovic and young guard Jerryd Bayless.

Stojakovic, who is making over $14 million in the final year of his contract this season, had fallen out of the Hornets' rotation, while Bayless averaged 4.5 points but shot under 35.0 percent as one of Paul's backups.

Jack, who was starting in Toronto at point guard, is due $4.8 million this season and nearly $11 million over the next two, but the difference in salaries for 2010-11 is expected to keep the cost-conscious Hornets under the NBA's luxury tax threshold. Jack, meanwhile, should be a solid third guard behind Paul and Marco Belinelli.

All the new additions will be expected to help the Hornets build on their franchise record 10-1 start.

On the floor, New Orleans won its second straight game since recording its lone loss of the season on Friday in the Big Easy when David West scored 34 points and grabbed 11 rebounds in a 108-101 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Paul added 15 points, 10 assists and six steals for the Hornets, who held on despite nearly blowing a 19-point lead. The Cavaliers cut their deficit to as low as three in the fourth quarter. Belinelli contributed 20 points and five assists for New Orleans.

"Any win is a good win for us," Hornets guard Willie Green said. "The last quarter we didn't close it out the way we wanted to. When we play our best defense, we can get multiple stops, we can execute our offense and get out and run. That's what we have to continue to build on."

It's unclear if any of the Hornets' new additions will be available tonight.

The Kings, meanwhile, snapped a six-game skid and improved to 1-2 on a four- game homestand Friday when Tyreke Evans finished with 20 points, as Sacramento held off the New Jersey Nets, 86-81.

Carl Landry scored 15 points for the Kings, who picked up just their second home victory of the season. Beno Udrih added 12 points off the bench and hit a key three-pointer late in the game.

"It's good to get a monkey off your back, per se, even though it's still early on in the season," said Kings forward Jason Thompson. "We obviously were on a skid, it's good to get off that. Hopefully we go in the right direction from here on out."

The Hornets have won five of the past six meetings in the series.