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Hornets return for full season in New Orleans against Kings

Oct 31, 2007 - 1:32 PM Sacramento (0-0) at New Orleans (0-0) 8:00 pm EDT

NEW ORLEANS (Ticker) -- The New Orleans Hornets begin their first full season in "The Big Easy" since Hurricane Katrina when they open up the 2007-08 season against the Sacramento Kings on Wednesday.

The Hornets have played nine games in New Orleans over the past two seasons and hope a return home will give the team a boost coming off a 39-43 campaign.

New Orleans was plagued by injuries last season with Peja Stojakovic missing 69 games, David West out for 30 and Chris Paul missing 18.

Despite the injuries, the Hornets finished just three games out of the final playoff spot in the Western Conference, and added rookie power forward Julian Wright with the 13th overall pick as well as free agent shooting guard Morris Peterson.

Center Tyson Chandler was second in the league in rebounding, averaging 12.4 rebounds per game and Paul was fourth in the league with 8.9 assists per contest. West led nine players who averaged atleast nine points per game with 18.3.

Sacramento, which suffered its worst season since 1998-99, already is suffering through key injuries.

Point guard Mike Bibby is out for atleast six weeks after he tore a ligament in his left thumb. First-round pick Spencer Hawes underwent arthroscopic surgery on his left knee during training camp and there is no timetable on his return.

First-year coach Reggie Theus will lean on off-guard Kevin Martin, who averaged 20.2 points per game and small forward Ron Artest - who is appealing his seven-game suspension for off the court legal troubles, and averaged 18.8 points per game last season.