The New Orleans Hornets hope to build on a thrilling
overtime win when they welcome the Toronto Raptors to the Big Easy on Friday.
Chris Paul poured in a game-high 39 points, dished out seven assists and
grabbed five rebounds on Wednesday, as the Hornets took down the Dallas
Mavericks, 114-107, in OT at New Orleans Arena.
David West added 25 points and 10 rebounds for the Hornets, who snapped a
brief two-game skid. Bobby Brown ended with 18 points off the bench, and Emeka
Okafor finished with 11 points and 13 rebounds for the victors.
"We wanted this one, especially at home. We wanted to make sure we gave it all
we could. We were able to wear them down in the fourth quarter and get some
bounces to go our way," West said after the win.
The Hornets will be dealing with a serious off-court issue, however. Team
owner George Shinn announced Friday that he has recently been diagnosed with
prostate cancer.
In a release, Shinn said despite the diagnosis, he remains healthy, optimistic
and committed to maintain his regular schedule.
"My wife, Denise, and I remain strong in our faith and will maintain a
positive attitude as I battle this with intense fervor and drive," Shinn said.
"This is not the first obstacle that I have had to overcome in life, but it
will be another one that will be conquered. Those closest to me understand my
commitment to God and belief in the power of prayer, so all that I ask is for
people to add me to their prayers.
"I'm proud of the fact that I will be joining the ranks of cancer survivors
around the world who exemplify the greatest strength and resilience. I am
consulting with the finest doctors and they are also optimistic that this will
be another example of overcoming the struggles that life can throw your way."
Shinn has been the owner of the Hornets since their inaugural season of
1988-89, when they were located in Charlotte. He then moved the franchise to
New Orleans, beginning with the 2002-03 season.
Toronto, meanwhile, is coming off its own impressive performance on Wednesday
as Chris Bosh scored a team-high 25 points and grabbed eight rebounds as the
Raptors earned a 110-99 win over the Detroit Pistons at Air Canada Centre.
Andrea Bargnani turned in a solid performance with 22 points and a game-best
12 boards for the Raptors, who recovered after dropping a 125-116 decision to
Orlando on Monday. Toronto has split its first four games of the young season.
Hedo Turkoglu added 16 points, seven rebounds and six assists.
The Raptors, who will be playing seven of their next eight games away from
home, have lost three straight to the Hornets.
©2009 Sports Network. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
