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Paul out when Hornets host Bulls

Feb 4, 2009 - 11:14 AM Chicago (21-28) at New Orleans (28-17) 8:00 p.m. EST

NEW ORLEANS (Ticker) -- The New Orleans Hornets are certainly happy that Chris Paul's groin injury isn't severe.

The Hornets still have to survive without him on Wednesday when they host the Chicago Bulls.

Paul tweaked his groin in the third quarter of Monday's 97-89 loss to the Portland Trail Blazers.

The 6-foot guard pulled up near the sidelines and grabbed the back of his right leg as the Blazers called a timeout with 2:35 left in the third.

New Orleans coach Byron Scott said Paul told him during the timeout that he had "pulled his groin a little," but they both agreed he would continue playing.

Paul aggravated the injury when he slipped entering the lane on a drive against Blazers guard Jerryd Bayless with 1:30 left in the quarter. He delivered a pass but went down in obvious pain before limping to the locker room.

Without Paul, who was diagnosed with a mild groin strain and is listed as day-to-day, Portland outscored the Hornets 42-17 as New Orleans endured its third straight loss.

The Bulls had a three-game win streak snapped during a 107-100 loss to the Houston Rockets on Tuesday but can still clinch a winning record on its seven-game road trip with a victory against New Orleans.