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A decision will not made until just before tipoff on Sunday against the Detroit Pistons if David West will play because of a sprained right ankle, Coach Byron Scott said.
West suffered the injury during Friday's 108-98 victory against the Los Angeles Lakers, and he did not participate in the team's light practice Saturday morning at the Alario Center. West missed three games with a sprained left ankle before returning Wednesday night against the San Antonio Spurs.
"Being that it's the other ankle, I really don't know what to think, (team trainer) Terry Kofler really thought it would be a game-time decision, ''Scott said. "I'm going to talk to David to see how he feels and we'll go from there. It's just one of those things and it has been a rough couple of weeks for him.'' Point guard Chris Paul tweaked his left ankle during the fourth quarter Friday night, but he is expected to start Sunday.
Chauncey Billups will face some of the NBA's best point guards this week, with New Orleans' Chris Paul being the youngest -- and maybe the best of the bunch. "He's awesome," Billups said. "He's young, athletic and he's tough as nails. He's really, really good already. He creates a lot of problems."
Especially for opponents, who have struggled to contain the third-year point guard this season. The 22-year-old Paul is averaging 21.4 points and 11.2 assists per game -- both career highs. Those numbers, combined with New Orleans' impressive record (44-20) this season, has made him a darkhorse MVP candidate. "He's playing at a whole different level," Pistons coach Flip Saunders. However, the Pistons did a good job of limiting Paul's effectiveness when Detroit beat the Hornets, 91-76, in New Orleans on Dec. 5. In that game, Paul finished with just 14 points and seven assists.
Detroit used multiple defensive coverages on Paul, such as tight man-to-man, double-teaming and occasionally trying to trap him."You just have to change things up," Saunders said. "Try to give him different looks so he can't get totally into a comfort zone." Saunders has seen many teams try different approaches to defending Paul, with few finding success. "Everyone's trying everything with him right now," Saunders said. "He's been able to solve almost everything." Which is why the Hornets have been among the best teams in the Western Conference most of this season. Their success has caught many off guard, but not Billups. Billups felt that, if not for Paul suffering a late-season injury last season, the Hornets would have been in the playoffs. "I knew if he stayed healthy, that team would be dangerous," Billups said.
Matchup: Pistons 47-18; New Orleans Hornets 44-20.
Tip-off: 1 p.m. at the Palace.
TV/radio: ABC; WDFN-AM (1130)
Injuries: Detroit -- none. New Orleans -- PG Chris Paul (ankle) probable; PF David West (ankle) questionable.
Overview: The Hornets could be without their top two players today, but that seems unlikely. Paul tweaked his ankle Friday against the Lakers but remained in the game and said he should be OK for today. West, though, had to leave with 6:51 left after spraining his right ankle. He is also getting over a sprained left ankle. Note the game time -- it has changed twice in the past week. The Hornets won at the Palace last season, 100-99.
The skinny: New Orleans comes to The Palace with a 44-20 record that leaves it in an essential three-way tie with the Lakers and Houston atop the Western Conference with 20 losses apiece. Despite such status, every win is critical to New Orleans because one of three Southwest Division teams
