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Paul takes on Billups when Hornets host Nuggets

Jan 28, 2009 - 11:26 AM Denver (30-15) at New Orleans (27-14) 8:00 p.m. EST

NEW ORLEANS (Ticker) -- Chris Paul and Chauncey Billups are helping their teams overcome injuries to key players.

Paul and Billups face off on Wednesday when the New Orleans Hornets go for their fifth win in six games overall against the Denver Nuggets.

The 23-year-old point guard leads the Hornets with 21.3 points per game and is tops in the NBA, averaging 11.1 assists and 2.8 steals. New Orleans has needed Paul to live up to those statistics recently with David West and Tyson Chandler sidelined.

The All-Star West has missed the last four games with back spasms and isn't expected to return until next week. Chandler has sat out the last three contests with a sprained left ankle that is expected to keep him on the bench for at least the next two weeks.

Despite their absence, Paul flirted with a quadruple-double on Monday, recording 27 points, 15 assists, 10 rebounds and seven steals, leading the Hornets to a 101-86 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers.

Billups has helped the Nuggets overcome the absence of Carmelo Anthony, who is expected to be in the lineup for Friday's home game against the Charlotte Bobcats after sitting out since January 5 with a fractured right hand.

Denver improved to 6-3 without Anthony during Tuesday's 100-85 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies as Billups erupted for 21 of his 29 points in the second half, including 16 in the third quarter, when he hit five of the Nuggets' six field goals.