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Paul hopes to get Hornets out of their funk

Nov 14, 2006 - 2:11 PM Charlotte (1-5) at New Orleans (4-3) 8:00 pm EST

OKLAHOMA CITY (Ticker) - The New Orleans Hornets were riding a wave of success to start the season. Now they have hit a bump in the road.

Reigning Rookie of the Year Chris Paul and the Hornets will try and put an end to their three-game losing streak when the lowly Charlotte Bobcats come calling Tuesday.

Paul scored 20 points and Tyson Chandler added eight and 13 rebounds in Friday's 92-76 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers. The Hornets begin the campaign on a franchise-best 4-0 start but have not won since.

The Hornets will be without forward David West, who is expected to miss at least the next two games with a strained right forearm. He is second on the team in points (17.4) and rebounds (8.3) this season.

Emeka Okafor collected 22 points, 15 rebounds and three blocks and Brevin Knight contributed 21 points and tied a season high with four steals but Charlotte fell, 108-101, to the Denver Nuggets on Sunday. The Bobcats also have dropped three straight games.

First-round selection Adam Morrison continued to struggle with his stroke. The third overall pick in June is shooting slightly better than 32 percent in six contests, including a dismal 1-of-8 performance in Sunday's loss.

The Hornets swept the two-game season series from the Bobcats a year ago, including 103-86 thrashing here on January 2 in which Paul contributed 24 points and 11 assists.