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With Carlesimo reportedly out, Thunder faces Hornets

Nov 22, 2008 - 11:17 AM Oklahoma City (1-12) at New Orleans (6-5) 8:00 pm. EST

NEW ORLEANS (Ticker) -- The New Orleans Hornets put on a show for their former fans, and it reportedly dropped the final curtain on P.J. Carlesimo's tenure as coach of the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Chris Paul had 17 points, six assists and six rebounds as New Orleans rolled to a 105-80 victory on Friday. It was the first game back in Oklahoma City for the Hornets, who spent two seasons there following Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

The Hornets were given a warm reception and their presence was likely a contributing factor to the relocation of the Thunder -- formerly the Seattle SuperSonics.

The teams will finish their home-and-home on Saturday, but Scott Brooks will reportedly coach the Thunder, according to a Yahoo! Sports that stated Carlesimo was fired before boarding the team plane to New Orleans.

The Thunder posted the second-worst record in the league last season (20-62) and was uprooted after 41 years in Seattle by co-Chairman Clay Bennett - an Oklahoma City native.

Thus far, the Thunder have proven to be just as bad in the Midwest as they were in the Great Northwest. Oklahoma City/Seattle has lost 10 straight for the second time in less than a year. The Sonics lost 11 consecutive games from March 4-22 after a franchise-worst 14 in a row from December 31-January 27.

The Thunder franchise has lost six straight to New Orleans.