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Hornets host Suns in the Big Easy

Apr 8, 2011 - 3:15 PM (Sports Network) - The New Orleans Hornets locked up a third postseason appearance in four years in their last encounter, and will now jockey for position in the Western Conference standings when they host the Phoenix Suns on Friday.

Despite a balky knee Chris Paul finished one rebound short of a triple-double, scoring 28 points with 10 assists and nine rebounds, on Wednesday as the Hornets clinched with a 101-93 victory over Houston.

Trevor Ariza and Jarrett Jack finished with 19 points apiece, while Emeka Okafor added 11 points for the Hornets, who yielded a season-high 38 first- quarter points and trailed by 17 before mounting a comeback.

"I thought Jarrett Jack came in and gave us a big lift guarding (Kevin) Martin so we could tag team him a little bit," said Hornets head coach Monty Williams. "And then Chris almost had a triple-double and normally I don't say this because I don't like to put this stuff out there but he had 45 cc's drained off his knee yesterday from the hit he took and for him to be able to play at a high level with a sore leg, they just don't make them like that."

Paul, of course, led the Hornets to their first division title in 2007-08 and another playoff appearance a year later before missing nearly half of the 2009-10 season with a variety of injuries as New Orleans missed the postseason.

The All-Star has missed just two games this season and the Hornets are currently the seventh seed in the West, one-half game behind Portland for No. 6 and a game ahead of eighth place Memphis. New Orleans has four games remaining following their third victory in four games.

A year after reaching the Western Conference finals, Phoenix is out of the playoff picture for the second time in three seasons but did avoid a fifth consecutive road loss with a 108-98 victory over lowly Minnesota on Wednesday.

Marcin Gortat had 20 points and 16 rebounds in that one, but most of the Suns' scoring came from the bench. Phoenix got 58 points from their reserves, including 19 from Aaron Brooks and 17 from Hakim Warrick, and moved to 1-2 on a five-game road trip with only their second win in eight games.

"We have five guys left from last year. It's a totally different team and we haven't been able to find the chemistry or even the ability," said Suns guard Steve Nash, who had six points and nine assists in 22 minutes.

The Hornets have taken two of three from the Suns this season.