TRYING EVERYTHING: Chicago Bulls forward Taj Gibson is defended by Denver Nuggets forward Kenyon Martin in the third quarter of their NBA basketball game in Denver.

Left for dead through the first two weeks of the season, the Chris Paul injury left the Hornets in desperate need of someone with even a minimal ability to create some offense.

NEW ORLEANS Maybe we all panicked too much too quickly. Maybe Jeff Bower knew a little bit more than we all gave him credit for.

Posted by John Paulsen You read that right: Peja Stojakovic . The Hornets are trying to stay competitive without Chris Paul, and Peja's 25-point, 13-rebound effort led New Orleans to a 110-103 win over the Pacific Division-leading Phoenix Suns.

Eight days ago, the New Orleans Hornets came to Phoenix and endured a good, old-fashioned beatdown from the Suns, 124-104. The next day, Hornets' management decided it was time for a change, and they fired head coach Byron Scott, who had a 203-216 record in 6 seasons, and was just two years removed from being the NBA's Coach of the Year.

David West had 24 points and 10 rebounds, and Jeff Bower picked up his first coaching win in the New Orleans Hornets' 110-102 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers on Tuesday night.

The New Orleans Hornets must move on now that All-Star point guard Chris Paul is sidelined indefinitely with a sprained ankle.

And the numbers didn't lie. The Phoenix Suns entered Wednesday night's game at US Airways Center the No.

Joe Johnson scored 26 points, Jamal Crawford added 21, and the Atlanta Hawks beat the New Orleans Hornets 121-98 on Saturday night for their fourth straight victory.

A red-hot Phoenix team returns to the Valley of the Sun Wednesday to take on the New Orleans Hornets.

Before conducting his first shootaround workout this morning, New Orleans Hornets Coach Jeff Bower said they will keep the same starting lineup for tonight's game against the Portland Trail Blazers as former coach Byron Scott used Wednesday night against Phoenix, but they will be looking to push the pace better offensively.

Two years ago, the New Orleans Hornets looked like a team on the rise in the NBA.

The Phoenix Suns scored 75 points in the first half before cruising to a 124-104 home rout of the New Orleans Hornets.

New Orleans Hornets forward Julian Wright didn't get the job done as a starter so far.

Chris Paul had 24 points and 10 assists on a sore ankle, Devin Brown scored 25 points and the New Orleans Hornets bounced right back from a blowout loss with a 112-84 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers on Monday night.

They were close to the top two seasons ago, now they look like a lottery team. I'm confused, is this the preseason or the season? And how do you tell the difference? The Lakers were without Andrew Bynum and Pau Gasol on Sunday night.

And even his heroics weren't enough. The Mavericks rallied, then faltered at the end of regulation, and they had nothing left in overtime as the New Orleans Hornets ran away with a 114-107 victory Wednesday night, snapping the Mavericks ' three-game winning streak.

With their resounding 107-90 win over the Hornets last night, the Raptors showed that they are now staring to gel as a team and are developing the kind of chemistry to begin achieving their expectations this season.

The New Orleans Hornets hope to build on a thrilling overtime win when they welcome the Toronto Raptors to the Big Easy on Friday.

In this young season to date, the most fitting way to describe the Hornets is inconsistent.