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Cavaliers, Hornets face off in star-studded showdown

Nov 1, 2008 - 10:43 AM Cleveland (1-1) at New Orleans (2-0), 8:00pm EDT

NEW ORLEANS (Ticker) -- Two of the league's staunchest contenders square off on Saturday as the unbeaten New Orleans Hornets host their home opener against the Cleveland Cavaliers in a possible Finals preview.

Both clubs bowed out in the second round of the playoffs last season and are expected to be in the thick of things once again come springtime. Hornets point guard Chris Paul and Cavaliers forward LeBron James both finished in the top-four in the league's MVP voting and are among the top contenders for the award this season.

Neither has disappointed over their first two games. Paul has led the explosive Hornets to back-to-back 108-point showings, nearly picking up his sixth career triple-double in Thursday's road win over the Phoenix Suns. The fourth-year guard collected 20 points, 10 assists and eight boards and James Posey drained three, fourth-quarter 3-pointers as the Hornets held on for their second win in as many chances.

James had a similar showing Thursday. The superstar forward posted 22 points, nine rebounds and nine assists as the Cavaliers rolled over the Charlotte Bobcats, 96-79.

The Hornets, who emerged from relative obscurity with a 56-win showing last year, beat the Cavaliers in both meetings in 2007-08. Paul averaged 17.5 points and 14.5 assists in the two games, but shot just 31 percent from the floor - including 14 percent from 3-point range.

For the Cavs, the showdown is the first half of a two-game road trip against Western Conference opponents before returning home for five of their next six.