• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Red-hot Hornets set to host struggling Pacers

Nov 21, 2007 - 2:47 PM Indiana (4-7) at New Orleans (9-3) 8:00 pm EST

NEW ORLEANS (Ticker) -- The New Orleans Hornets have blitzed their way to one of the best starts in the NBA, but they haven't been able to escape the injury bug.

The Hornets hope to have Chris Paul and Tyson Chandler back in the lineup when they host the struggling Indiana Pacers on Wednesday.

New Orleans had its five-game winning streak snapped on Monday in a 95-88 loss to the Orlando Magic.

The Hornets were without Paul, who has missed the past two games while recovering from a right ankle injury, and lost Chandler to a hyper-extended right knee in the second quarter.

Paul has pushed himself into the league's point guard elite early this season by averaging 19.5 points and 10.8 assists per contest.

The Pacers began the season 3-0 but have fallen on hard times since, dropping seven of their last eight games.

Defense has been the biggest problem, as Indiana ranks last in the Eastern Conference in scoring defense, allowing 105.3 points per game.

The Pacers were embarrassed on Tuesday, 134-114, by the Los Angeles Lakers. Indiana allowed Los Angeles to shoot 58.3 percent (42-of-72) and sent it to the free throw line 46 times.