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Hornets struggling without Paul, Chandler

Feb 6, 2009 - 11:20 AM Toronto (19-32) at New Orleans (28-18) 8:00 p.m. EST

NEW ORLEANS (Ticker) -- The New Orleans Hornets need to get healthy in a hurry.

The Hornets try to snap a four-game slide without two of their key players on Friday when they host the Toronto Raptors.

Without Chris Paul or Tyson Chandler in the lineup, New Orleans endured a 107-93 setback to the Chicago Bulls on Wednesday. The team shot 36 percent (29-of-80) from the field and trailed, 62-44, at halftime.

Paul, who is listed as day-to-day after suffering a mild groin strain late in the third quarter of Monday's loss to the Portland Trail Blazers, said he felt well enough to return to the lineup on Wednesday, but coach Byron Scott could keep him out until next week as a precaution.

"If anything, (if) he plays, he does more damage to it," Scott said. "So we want to take a couple of days and see if he's a fast healer. Until that thing is pretty much cleared up, we're going to wait."

Chandler was averaging 8.8 points and a team-high 8.3 rebounds in 32 games before suffering a severe left ankle sprain against the Indiana Pacers on January 19 that is expected to keep him out for three weeks.

Despite Paul and Chandler's absence, the Hornets should be able to end their slide against the slumping Raptors, who have also lost four straight games, including a 115-107 setback tot he Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday.