GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: NBA: PORTLAND (0-1) at NEW ORLEANS (1-0)

[SportsTicker]

NBA: PORTLAND (0-1) at NEW ORLEANS (1-0)

<h3>Hornets seek 2-0 start, face Trail Blazers</h3>

NEW ORLEANS (Ticker) -- Chris Paul and the New Orleans Hornetsaim for a second consecutive 2-0 start when they take on thePortland Trail Blazers on Friday.


New Orleans defeated the Sacramento Kings, 104-90, on Wednesdayto begin its 2007-08 season. It was the first of 41 home gamesthe Hornets will play at New Orleans Arena after two straightseasons of splitting contests between here and Oklahoma City.

Paul played at a high level, scoring 22 points and handing out12 assists for the club, which looks to start 2-0 for the secondstraight season. The Hornets won four straight to open2006-07, the first time the team has won that many to begin anyyear.


Peja Stojakovic scored 19 points and Tyson Chandler had 15and 13 rebounds for New Orleans, which shot 51 percentfrom the field, the second-best opening-night shootingperformance in team history.


The Hornets look for continued success against the TrailBlazers, who they've beaten three straight and five on six athome.


Portland began its season with a 106-97 loss to the NBAchampion San Antonio Spurs on Tuesday night. LaMarcus Aldridgescored a game-high 27 points and Martell Webster scored 21 forthe Blazers, who only received seven from reigning Rookie of theYear Brandon Roy.


Portland is trying to avoid an 0-2 start for just the secondtime in seven seasons. The Blazers were 0-2 in 2005-06 andhaven't lost more than that to begin any year since starting 0-4in '86-87.


Portland has won two of three vs. New Orleans.

 

[SportsTicker]

NBA: PORTLAND at NEW ORLEANS

<div class="pre">PORTLAND AT NEW ORLEANS - PROBABLE STARTING LINEUPS


PORTLAND NEW ORLEANS

F Lamarcus Aldridge F Peja Stojakovic
F Martell Webster F David West
C Joel Przybilla C Tyson Chandler
G Brandon Roy G Morris Peterson
G Jarrett Jack G Chris Paul

OFFICIALS: Bob Delaney
Derrick Stafford
David Guthrie</div>

 

[SportsTicker]

NBA: PORTLAND at NEW ORLEANS

<div class="pre">NBA PORTLAND 5
NEW ORLEANS 10 8:44 LEFT, 1ST QTR</div>

 

[SportsTicker]

NBA: PORTLAND at NEW ORLEANS

<div class="pre">NBA PORTLAND 11
NEW ORLEANS 18 5:51 LEFT, 1ST QTR</div>

 

[SportsTicker]

NBA: PORTLAND at NEW ORLEANS

<div class="pre">NBA PORTLAND 21
NEW ORLEANS 31 END, 1ST QTR</div>

 

[SportsTicker]

NBA: PORTLAND at NEW ORLEANS

<div class="pre">NBA END 1ST QTR 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
PORTLAND 21 21
NEW ORLEANS 31 31 END 1ST QTR

HIGH SCORERS AFTER 1ST QUARTER

POR - BRANDON ROY 6, LAMARCUS ALDRIDGE 6,
MARTELL WEBSTER 5
NOR - PEJA STOJAKOVIC 8, TYSON CHANDLER 6,
CHRIS PAUL 6</div>

 

[SportsTicker]

NBA: PORTLAND at NEW ORLEANS

<div class="pre">NBA PORTLAND 30
NEW ORLEANS 41 8:48 LEFT, 2ND QTR</div>

 

[SportsTicker]

NBA: PORTLAND at NEW ORLEANS

<div class="pre">NBA PORTLAND 37
NEW ORLEANS 43 6:03 LEFT, 2ND QTR</div>

 

[SportsTicker]

NBA: PORTLAND at NEW ORLEANS

<div class="pre">NBA PORTLAND 41
NEW ORLEANS 50 3:09 LEFT, 2ND QTR</div>

 

[SportsTicker]

NBA: PORTLAND at NEW ORLEANS

<div class="pre">NBA PORTLAND 49
NEW ORLEANS 57 HALFTIME</div>

 

[SportsTicker]

NBA: PORTLAND at NEW ORLEANS

<div class="pre">NBA HALFTIME 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
PORTLAND 21 28 49
NEW ORLEANS 31 26 57 HALFTIME

HIGH SCORERS AT HALFTIME

POR - BRANDON ROY 10, LAMARCUS ALDRIDGE 8,
MARTELL WEBSTER 7
NOR - PEJA STOJAKOVIC 12, CHRIS PAUL 10, BOBBY
JACKSON 9</div>

 

[SportsTicker]

NBA: PORTLAND at NEW ORLEANS

<div class="pre">NBA PORTLAND 53
NEW ORLEANS 61 8:59 LEFT, 3RD QTR</div>

 

[SportsTicker]

NBA: PORTLAND at NEW ORLEANS

<div class="pre">NBA PORTLAND 55
NEW ORLEANS 71 5:55 LEFT, 3RD QTR</div>

 

[SportsTicker]

NBA: PORTLAND at NEW ORLEANS

<div class="pre">NBA PORTLAND 62
NEW ORLEANS 82 2:53 LEFT, 3RD QTR</div>

 

[SportsTicker]

NBA: PORTLAND at NEW ORLEANS

<div class="pre">NBA PORTLAND 64
NEW ORLEANS 87 END, 3RD QTR</div>

 

[SportsTicker]

NBA: PORTLAND at NEW ORLEANS

<div class="pre">NBA END 3RD QTR 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
PORTLAND 21 28 15 64
NEW ORLEANS 31 26 30 87 END 3RD QTR

HIGH SCORERS AFTER 3RD QUARTER

POR - BRANDON ROY 21, MARTELL WEBSTER 9,
LAMARCUS ALDRIDGE 8
NOR - CHRIS PAUL 19, PEJA STOJAKOVIC 18, DAVID
WEST 12</div>

 

[SportsTicker]

NBA: PORTLAND at NEW ORLEANS

<div class="pre">NBA PORTLAND 68
NEW ORLEANS 92 8:56 LEFT, 4TH QTR</div>

 

[SportsTicker]

NBA: PORTLAND at NEW ORLEANS

<div class="pre">NBA PORTLAND 78
NEW ORLEANS 99 5:45 LEFT, 4TH QTR</div>

 

[SportsTicker]

NBA: PORTLAND at NEW ORLEANS

<div class="pre">NBA PORTLAND 82
NEW ORLEANS 109 3:06 LEFT, 4TH QTR</div>

 

[SportsTicker]

NBA: PORTLAND at NEW ORLEANS

<div class="pre">NBA PORTLAND 88
NEW ORLEANS 111 0:44 LEFT, 4TH QTR</div>

 

[SportsTicker]

NBA: PORTLAND at NEW ORLEANS

<div class="pre">NBA PORTLAND 93
NEW ORLEANS 113 FINAL</div>

 

[SportsTicker]

NBA: PORTLAND at NEW ORLEANS

<div class="pre">NBA FINAL 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
PORTLAND 21 28 15 29 93
NEW ORLEANS 31 26 30 26 113 FINAL

HIGH SCORERS: POR - BRANDON ROY 23, JAMES JONES 14, MARTELL
WEBSTER 13
NOR - CHRIS PAUL 19, PEJA STOJAKOVIC 18, DAVID
WEST 14</div>

 

[SportsTicker]

NBA: PORTLAND at NEW ORLEANS

<div class="pre">** CONFIRMED **
NBA
PORTLAND 93
NEW ORLEANS 113 FINAL</div>

 

[SportsTicker]

By Ed Cassiere
PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer


NEW ORLEANS (Ticker) -- For the second time in three days, the NewOrleans Hornets were on target.


Chris Paul scored 19 points and Peja Stojakovic added 18 to leadthe hot-shooting Hornets to a 113-93 victory against thePortland Trail Blazers on Friday.


New Orleans never relinquished the lead after scoring the firstfour points and buried the Blazers in the third quarter,outscoring them by 15 points. Paul was solid in the period withnine points in the final seven minutes.


Stojakovic, who missed all but 13 games last season, knockeddown 7-of-17 shots, including 4-of-10 from the arc. Heconnected on a pair of 3-pointers in the decisive third.

Bobby Jackson and David West poured in 14 points apiece, RasualButler added 11 and Tyson Chandler netted 10 for New Orleans,which shot 56 percent (44-of-78) from the field - the secondstraight game which the club made more than it missed.

Brandon Roy scored 23 points on 10-of-15 shooting and JamesJones added 14 for Portland, which was outrebounded by NewOrleans, 40-30.


Chandler left the game midway through the second quarter with abloody nose after a collision under his basket but returned justover two minutes later. The 25-year-old center pulled down 11rebounds and was a perfect 2-of-2 from the floor and 6-of-6 fromthe free-throw line.

 

[SportsTicker]

NBA: PORTLAND at NEW ORLEANS

<div class="pre">PORTLAND (93) AT NEW ORLEANS (113)

PORTLAND

REBOUNDS
PLAYER POS MIN FGM-FGA FTM-FTA OFF-DEF-TOT AST PF ST TO PTS
====== === === ======= ======= =========== === == == == ===

M WEBSTER F 32:29 4-10 4-4 1 1 2 4 1 0 1 13
L ALDRIDGE F 34:29 4-12 0-2 4 5 9 0 2 0 1 8
J PRZYBILLA C 15:03 1-5 0-0 1 3 4 0 5 0 2 2
B ROY G 33:16 10-15 2-2 0 1 1 3 1 1 4 23
J JACK G 20:11 0-4 0-0 0 2 2 5 1 1 4 0
C FRYE 20:02 3-7 0-0 1 4 5 3 4 0 0 6
S BLAKE 28:13 2-4 0-0 0 1 1 2 1 1 0 4
J JONES 15:31 6-7 0-0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 14
S RODRIGUEZ 11:54 3-5 1-2 1 1 2 2 1 0 1 8
T OUTLAW 24:00 4-10 0-0 1 2 3 3 1 0 0 8
T GREEN 2:26 1-1 0-0 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 3
R LAFRENTZ 2:26 2-3 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4

TOTALS 240:00 40-83 7-10 9 21 30 23 18 4 13 93
(.482) (.700) TEAM REBS: 7 TOTAL TO: 13 (10 PTS)

NEW ORLEANS

REBOUNDS
PLAYER POS MIN FGM-FGA FTM-FTA OFF-DEF-TOT AST PF ST TO PTS
====== === === ======= ======= =========== === == == == ===

P STOJAKOVIC F 31:41 7-17 0-0 1 5 6 3 0 1 0 18
D WEST F 25:50 6-9 2-2 1 1 2 0 1 3 1 14
T CHANDLER C 28:29 2-2 6-6 4 7 11 1 2 0 1 10
M PETERSON G 27:14 3-5 0-0 0 3 3 3 0 0 1 7
C PAUL G 25:42 9-12 0-0 0 3 3 6 3 2 2 19
M ELY 19:57 1-3 1-2 0 3 3 1 4 1 0 3
R BUTLER 16:29 4-9 0-0 0 1 1 1 1 0 0 11
B JACKSON 17:39 6-9 0-0 0 3 3 2 2 0 1 14
H ARMSTRONG 16:05 1-2 0-0 1 4 5 1 3 0 2 2
J WRIGHT 10:47 1-1 2-2 1 2 3 1 1 0 1 4
R BOWEN 11:11 0-1 1-2 0 0 0 1 3 0 0 1
J PARGO 8:56 4-8 2-2 0 0 0 1 0 0 2 10

TOTALS 240:00 44-78 14-16 8 32 40 21 20 7 11 113
(.564) (.875) TEAM REBS: 5 TOTAL TO: 12 (15 PTS)

PORTLAND 21 28 15 29 - 93
NEW ORLEANS 31 26 30 26 - 113

BLOCKED SHOTS: PORTLAND - J PRZYBILLA. NEW ORLEANS - R BOWEN, T CHANDLER,
D WEST.
3-PT. FIELD GOALS: PORTLAND 6-13 (.462), M WEBSTER 1-3, B ROY 1-1,
S BLAKE 0-1, J JONES 2-3, S RODRIGUEZ 1-2, T OUTLAW 0-2, T GREEN 1-
1. NEW ORLEANS 11-25 (.440), P STOJAKOVIC 4-10, M PETERSON 1-3, C PAUL 1-
1, R BUTLER 3-6, B JACKSON 2-5.
TECHNICAL FOULS: PORTLAND - J PRZYBILLA. NEW ORLEANS - D WEST.
FLAGRANT FOULS: NONE.
OFFICIALS: BOB DELANEY, DAVID GUTHRIE, DERRICK STAFFORD.
A - 9,817. T - 2:11.</div>

 

[SportsTicker]

NBA: PORTLAND at NEW ORLEANS

<div class="pre">PORTLAND (93)

fg ft rb
min m-a m-a o-t a pf tp
M Webster 32:29 4-10 4-4 1-2 4 1 13
L Aldridge 34:29 4-12 0-2 4-9 0 2 8
J Przybilla 15:03 1-5 0-0 1-4 0 5 2
B Roy 33:16 10-15 2-2 0-1 3 1 23
J Jack 20:11 0-4 0-0 0-2 5 1 0
C Frye 20:02 3-7 0-0 1-5 3 4 6
S Blake 28:13 2-4 0-0 0-1 2 1 4
J Jones 15:31 6-7 0-0 0-0 0 1 14
S Rodriguez 11:54 3-5 1-2 1-2 2 1 8
T Outlaw 24:00 4-10 0-0 1-3 3 1 8
T Green 2:26 1-1 0-0 0-1 1 0 3
R LaFrentz 2:26 2-3 0-0 0-0 0 0 4

______________________________________________________
TOTALS 240:00 40-83 7-10 9-30 23 18 93
______________________________________________________

Percentages: FG-.482, FT-.700. 3-Point Goals:
6-13, .462 (M Webster 1-3, B Roy 1-1, S Blake
0-1, J Jones 2-3, S Rodriguez 1-2, T Outlaw
0-2, T Green 1-1). Team Rebounds: 7. Blocked
Shots:1 (J Przybilla). Turnovers:13 (B Roy 4,
J Jack 4, J Przybilla 2, L Aldridge, M
Webster, S Rodriguez). Steals: 4 (J Jones, S
Blake, B Roy, J Jack).


NEW ORLEANS (113)

fg ft rb
min m-a m-a o-t a pf tp
P Stojakovic 31:41 7-17 0-0 1-6 3 0 18
D West 25:50 6-9 2-2 1-2 0 1 14
T Chandler 28:29 2-2 6-6 4-11 1 2 10
M Peterson 27:14 3-5 0-0 0-3 3 0 7
C Paul 25:42 9-12 0-0 0-3 6 3 19
M Ely 19:57 1-3 1-2 0-3 1 4 3
R Butler 16:29 4-9 0-0 0-1 1 1 11
B Jackson 17:39 6-9 0-0 0-3 2 2 14
H Armstrong 16:05 1-2 0-0 1-5 1 3 2
J Wright 10:47 1-1 2-2 1-3 1 1 4
R Bowen 11:11 0-1 1-2 0-0 1 3 1
J Pargo 8:56 4-8 2-2 0-0 1 0 10

______________________________________________________
TOTALS 240:00 44-78 14-16 8-40 21 20 113
______________________________________________________

Percentages: FG-.564, FT-.875. 3-Point Goals:
11-25, .440 (P Stojakovic 4-10, M Peterson
1-3, C Paul 1-1, R Butler 3-6, B Jackson
2-5). Team Rebounds: 5. Blocked Shots:3 (R
Bowen, T Chandler, D West). Turnovers:11 (H
Armstrong 2, J Pargo 2, C Paul 2, B Jackson,
J Wright, M Peterson, T Chandler, D West).
Steals: 7 (D West 3, C Paul 2, P Stojakovic,
M Ely).

-------------------------------------------
PORTLAND 21 28 15 29 - 93
NEW ORLEANS 31 26 30 26 - 113
-------------------------------------------

Technical fouls: Portland - 1 (J Przybilla,
5:39 3rd). New Orleans - 1 (D West, 5:39
3rd).
Flagrant fouls: None. A: 9,817. T: 2:11.
Officials: Bob Delaney, David Guthrie,
Derrick Stafford.</div>

 

[SportsTicker]

NBA: PORTLAND at NEW ORLEANS

<div class="pre">NBA FINAL 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
PORTLAND 21 28 15 29 93
NEW ORLEANS 31 26 30 26 113 FINAL

HIGH SCORERS: POR - BRANDON ROY 23, JAMES JONES 14, MARTELL
WEBSTER 13
NOR - CHRIS PAUL 19, PEJA STOJAKOVIC 18, TWO
PLAYERS WITH 14

HIGH REBOUND: POR - LAMARCUS ALDRIDGE 9, CHANNING FRYE 5,
JOEL PRZYBILLA 4
NOR - TYSON CHANDLER 11, PEJA STOJAKOVIC 6,
HILTON ARMSTRONG 5

HIGH ASSISTS: POR - JARRETT JACK 5, MARTELL WEBSTER 4, THREE
PLAYERS WITH 3
NOR - CHRIS PAUL 6, PEJA STOJAKOVIC 3, MORRIS
PETERSON 3

ATT: 9,817</div>

 

[SportsTicker]

By Ed Cassiere
PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer


NEW ORLEANS (Ticker) -- For the second time in three days, theNew Orleans Hornets were on target.


Chris Paul scored 19 points and Peja Stojakovic added 18 to leadthe hot-shooting Hornets to a 113-93 victory against thePortland Trail Blazers on Friday.


It is the first time in the Hornets' 20-year history thatthey've opened the season with consecutive double-digitvictories. They beat Sacramento by 14 on Wednesday.

New Orleans shot 56 percent (44-of-78) from the field - thesecond straight game which the club made more than it missed -and never relinquished the lead after scoring the first fourpoints.


The Hornets buried the Blazers in the third quarter, outscoringthem by 15 points. Paul was solid in the period with ninepoints in the final seven minutes.


"We did a terrible job containing Chris Paul," Portland swingmanBrandon Roy said. "He got in the lane. If he wasn't shooting alayup, he was getting an assist for somebody getting a dunk.You can't stop the Hornets if you can't stop Chris Paul, and wedid a terrible job of that."


Stojakovic, who missed all but 13 games last season, knockeddown 7-of-17 shots, including 4-of-10 from the arc. Heconnected on a pair of 3-pointers in the decisive third.

"New Orleans has a lot of weapons," Portland coach Nate McMillansaid. "They're a very good team. But we can play better. Itwas disheartening to see them pick us apart."


Bobby Jackson and David West poured in 14 points apiece, RasualButler added 11 and Tyson Chandler and Jannero Pargo each netted10 for New Orleans.


"It's been impressive the way we've shot the ball the first twogames," New Orleans coach Byron Scott said. "The guys have apretty good understanding of each other and the offense.

"I like the ball movement, the player movement and the fact thatwe have a bunch of unselfish guys that want to do whatever'sbest for the team."


Roy scored 23 points on 10-of-15 shooting and reserve JamesJones added 14 on 6-of-7 shooting for Portland, which wasoutrebounded by New Orleans, 40-30.


While Roy and James played a solid game, the other 10 Blazerswho saw time on Friday shot a combined 33 percent (24-of-61)from the floor.


Chandler left the game midway through the second quarter with abloody nose after a collision under his basket but returned justover two minutes later. The 25-year-old center pulled down 11rebounds and was a perfect 2-of-2 from the floor and 6-of-6 fromthe free-throw line.


Chandler was among those drawing praise from Scott for defendingBlazers forward LaMarcus Aldridge, who scored 27 points on12-of-19 shooting Tuesday at San Antonio but had just eightpoints against the Hornets on 4-of-12 from the field.

"Tyson loves those type of challenges," Scott said. "But we hadthree or four guys guarding (Aldridge). David guarded him,Hilton (Armstrong), Melvin (Ely). We tried to make sure when(Aldridge) put it on the floor, we had some help coming thatway. We tried to make sure every shot was under a littleduress."


"We stuck to our principles. We stayed aggressive on Aldridgeall night and got him out of his comfort zone," said Chandler,who has double-doubles in both of New Orleans' victories. "Welooked good out there."