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Carter-less Nets host Paul, Hornets

Nov 12, 2007 - 3:04 PM New Orleans (5-2) at New Jersey (0-0) 7:30 pm EST

EAST RUTHERFORD, New Jersey (Ticker) -- The New Jersey Nets will have find someone to step up and fill the void left by Vince Carter.

The shorthanded Nets will try to bounce back without Carter on Monday when they host Chris Paul and the New Orleans Hornets.

New Jersey dropped a 112-101 decision Saturday to the new-look Boston Celtics and lost Carter to a badly sprained ankle. No timetable has been set for Carter, who has led the team in scoring the previous two campaigns.

With Carter sidelined, Richard Jefferson, Jason Kidd and Antoine Wright will have to take their offensive output to another level. The 6-7 Jefferson has been almost unstoppable, averaging 26.0 points this season - the sixth-best in the league.

New Orleans put an end to its two-game slide with Sunday's 93-72 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers. Paul and David West poured in 16 points each for the Hornets.

A third-year guard, Paul leads the NBA with 11.1 assists per game.

The Nets and Hornets split their two meetings last season, with both winning away from home. However, New Orleans coach Byron Scott is 1-5 all-time against his former club.