GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: NBA: NEW ORLEANS (8-2) at MINNESOTA (1-6)

NBA: NEW ORLEANS (8-2) at MINNESOTA (1-6)

<h3>Paul, Hornets seeks fifth consecutive win</h3>

<div class="pre">New Orleans (8-2) at Minnesota (1-6) 8:00 pm EST</div>

<div class="pre">MINNEAPOLIS (Ticker) - The surging New Orleans Hornets try to</div>extend their winning streak to five games when they visit theMinnesota Timberwolves on Saturday night.


David West poured in a career-high 40 points and Chris Pauladded 28 and 13 assists as New Orleans held on for a 120-118overtime triumph over the Memphis Grizzlies on Friday.

Coach Byron Scott and the Hornets have excelled away from theBig Easy this season, posting an impressive 5-1 record withtheir lone setback coming in the form of a three-point loss toPortland.


New Orleans big men Tyson Chandler could be challenged in thepaint by Minnesota's Al Jefferson, who has registered sevendouble doubles this season.


The Timberwolves failed to capitalize off their first win of theseason, dropping a 105-89 decision to the Washington Wizardshere on Friday. Rashad McCants led the way with 19 points andeight boards.


A third-year swingman, McCants has been one of the bright spotfor Minnesota, averaging 18.6 points while shooting 53 percentfrom the floor. The 6-4 former first-round pick hadmicrofracture surgery on his knee last season.


New Orleans won three of the four meetings between the teamslast season.

 

Re: NBA: NEW ORLEANS (8-2) at MINNESOTA (1-6)

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<p align="center"><font face="Verdana">November 17, 2007 @ 8:00pm ET
Target Center (Minneapolis, MN)
Game aired on FSNNHD (MN)
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<p align="center"><font face="Verdana" color="#b90456"><font color="#33cccc">New Orleans Hornets</font>
<font color="#ffcc00">(8-2)</font></font></p>


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<p align="center"><font color="#2c5098"><font face="Verdana"><font color="#000080">Minnesota Timberwolves</font>
</font><font color="#006600"><font face="Verdana">(1-6)</font></font></font></p>


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<h4 align="center"><font face="Verdana"><font size="4" color="#000000">Projected Starters</font></font></h4>
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<font size="2" face="Verdana" color="#33cccc"><font color="#ffcc00">PG</font> Paul </font><font size="2" face="Verdana" color="#ffcc00">SG</font><font size="2" face="Verdana" color="#33cccc"> </font><font color="#33cccc"><font size="2"><font face="Verdana">Peterson</font></font></font><font size="2" face="Verdana" color="#33cccc">

</font><font color="#33cccc"><font size="2"><font face="Verdana"><font color="#ffcc00">SF</font> </font></font></font><font color="#33cccc"><font size="2"><font face="Verdana">Stojakovic</font></font></font><font size="2" face="Verdana" color="#33cccc"> </font><font color="#ffcc00"><font size="2"><font face="Verdana">PF</font></font></font><font size="2" face="Verdana" color="#33cccc"> </font><font color="#33cccc"><font size="2"><font face="Verdana">West</font></font></font><font size="2" face="Verdana" color="#33cccc"> </font><font color="#ffcc00"><font size="2"><font face="Verdana">C</font></font></font><font size="2" face="Verdana" color="#33cccc"> </font><font color="#33cccc"><font size="2"><font face="Verdana">Chandler</font></font></font><font size="2" face="Verdana" color="#b90456">
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<p align="center"><font face="Verdana"></font> <font face="Verdana"></font>

<font size="2" face="Verdana" color="#000000"><font color="#006600">PG</font></font><font size="2" face="Verdana" color="#000000"> Jaric </font><font size="2" face="Verdana" color="#000000"><font color="#006600">SG</font></font><font size="2" face="Verdana" color="#000000"> <font color="#000080"><font color="#000000">McCants</font></font>

</font><font color="#006600"><font size="2"><font face="Verdana">SF </font></font></font><font size="2" face="Verdana" color="#b90456"><font color="#000000"><font color="#000080">Gomes</font> </font></font><font size="2" face="Verdana" color="#000000"><font color="#006600">PF</font></font><font size="2" face="Verdana" color="#b90456"><font color="#000000"> </font><font color="#000000"><font color="#000080">Jefferson</font> </font></font><font color="#006600"><font size="2"><font face="Verdana">C</font></font></font><font size="2" face="Verdana" color="#b90456"><font color="#000000"> </font><font color="#000080">Ratliff</font></font><font size="2">
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<font color="#b90456"><font face="Verdana"><font face="Verdana"></font> <font face="Verdana"></font> <font face="Verdana"></font></font></font></p>
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<h4><font size="4" color="#000000"><font face="Verdana">Team Stats</font></font></h4>
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<td class="strong"><font color="#ffcc00"><font face="Verdana">Scoring</font></font></td>
<td><font face="Verdana" color="#33cccc"></font><font face="Verdana" color="#33cccc">99.5 PPG (15th)</font></td>
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<td class="strong"><font color="#ffcc00"><font face="Verdana">Field Goal %</font></font></td>
<td><font face="Verdana" color="#33cccc"></font><font face="Verdana" color="#33cccc">46.1% (10th)</font></td>
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<td class="strong"><font color="#ffcc00"><font face="Verdana">3-Point %</font></font></td>
<td><font face="Verdana" color="#33cccc"></font><font face="Verdana" color="#33cccc">45.7% (2nd)</font></td>
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<td class="strong"><font color="#ffcc00"><font face="Verdana">Rebounding</font></font></td>
<td><font face="Verdana" color="#33cccc"></font><font face="Verdana" color="#33cccc">43.2 RPG (14th)</font></td>
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<td class="strong"><font color="#ffcc00"><font face="Verdana">Assists</font></font></td>
<td><font face="Verdana" color="#33cccc"></font><font face="Verdana" color="#33cccc">20.9 APG (16th)</font></td>
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<td class="strong"><font color="#006600"><font face="Verdana">Scoring</font></font></td>
<td><font face="Verdana" color="#000080">95.7 PPG (21st)
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<td class="strong"><font color="#006600"><font face="Verdana">Field Goal %</font></font></td>
<td><font face="Verdana" color="#000080">44.4% (16th)
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<td class="strong"><font color="#006600"><font face="Verdana">3-Point %</font></font></td>
<td><font face="Verdana" color="#000080">38.8% (6th)
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<td class="strong"><font color="#006600"><font face="Verdana">Rebounding</font></font></td>
<td><font face="Verdana" color="#000080">41.0 RPG (23rd)
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<td class="strong"><font color="#006600"><font face="Verdana">Assists</font></font></td>
<td><font face="Verdana" color="#000080">18.4 APG (26th)
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<h4><font size="4" face="Verdana" color="#000000">Team Leaders</font></h4>
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<td class="strong"><font color="#ffcc00"><font face="Verdana">Scoring</font></font></td>
<td><font face="Verdana" color="#33cccc">David West (20.4 PPG)</font></td>
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<td class="strong"><font color="#ffcc00"><font face="Verdana">Rebounding</font></font></td>
<td><font face="Verdana" color="#33cccc">Tyson Chandler (12.0 RPG)</font></td>
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<td class="strong"><font color="#ffcc00"><font face="Verdana">Assists</font></font></td>
<td><font face="Verdana" color="#33cccc">Chris Paul (10.8 APG)</font></td>
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<td class="strong"><font color="#006600"><font face="Verdana">Scoring</font></font></td>
<td><font face="Verdana" color="#000080">Al Jefferson (19.4 PPG)</font></td>
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<td class="strong"><font color="#006600"><font face="Verdana">Rebounding</font></font></td>
<td><font face="Verdana" color="#000080">Al Jefferson (11.3 RPG)</font></td>
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<td class="strong"><font color="#006600"><font face="Verdana">Assists</font></font></td>
<td><font face="Verdana" color="#000080">Sebastian Telfair (4.9 APG)</font></td>
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<h4><font size="4" color="#000000"><font face="Verdana">Key Matchup
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<font face="Verdana" color="#000000"><font color="#ff0000"><font color="#000000"><font color="#33cccc">David West</font> <font color="#0000ff"><font color="#000080"><font color="#000000">vs.</font> Al Jefferson</font>
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<font face="Verdana">Both of these guys are among the list of top big men in the Western Conference. You have you're elite level guys such as Tim Duncan, Dirk Nowitzki, Amare Stoudemire, etc. but these guys are up-and-coming studs themselves. They are very different players, as Jefferson is you're traditional low-post finesse scorer while West has a soft touch around the basket to go along with a respectable jumper. These two are each very capable of going for 20+/10+ on any given night, and at some point, they both may hold those averages (Jefferson is knocking on the door as we speak).
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<h4><font size="4" face="Verdana" color="#000000">Keys to the Game</font></h4>
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<ul>[*]<font face="Verdana" color="#000000"><font color="#ffcc00">Post Defense:</font> <font color="#33cccc">You've got to play excellent post defense any time a guy like Al Jefferson is on the opposing end. He's a guy that can give it to you any way you want it in the post, and shutting him down is extremely difficult, especially with his passing skills out of the double-team. Chandler is going to have to play good weak-side defense and West is really going to have to put a body on him, or it could get ugly.</font>
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[*]<font face="Verdana" color="#000000"><font color="#ffcc00">Paul's Penetration:</font> <font color="#009900"><font color="#33cccc">Chris Paul is obviously deadly off the dribble with his ball handling skills, speed, quickness, and floor awareness. The Wolves are not very good at cutting off penetration, and while Paul is pass-first, he could really kill the Wolves with his own offense tonight. Jaric doesn't have a chance at sticking with CP3 at all, and Telfair isn't necessarily a defensive stopper himself, despite the speed and quickness he possesses. Paul needs to be aggressive with his own offense in this one.</font>
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[*]<font face="Verdana" color="#000000"><font color="#ffcc00">Pace Yourselves:</font> <font color="#800080"><font color="#33cccc">New Orleans is coming off an overtime game last night, in which David West poured in 40 points, against a fast-paced Memphis team. They are naturally going to be tired. If they can slow the pace of this game down a bit and Byron Scott can manage the minutes properly, they should be OK down the stretch of this game.</font>
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<ul>[*]<font face="Verdana" color="#000000"><font color="#006600">Play Bassy Big Minutes:</font> <font color="#000080">Let's face it, Marko Jaric doesn't have a shot in hell at defending Chris Paul - or even sticking with him laterally. In a quickness matchup like this, Bassy needs to play extended minutes in this game. Jaric has the size advantage, but that doesn't make a difference with a guy like Paul. Bassy has done a decent job defensively thus far, and he needs to play big minutes with this matchup. I personally would start him, too</font><font color="#ff0000"><font color="#000080">.</font>
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[*]<font face="Verdana" color="#000000"><font color="#006600">Wear Them Down:</font> <font color="#000080">The Wolves can't let them control the pace of the game, like they have done in about 5/7 games. With the Hornets playing an up-tempo OT game last night, they need to make sure they turn on the jets and outrun the Hornets. Make them play fast, wear them down. This is another reason why Telfair should start and play big minutes.</font>
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[*]<font face="Verdana" color="#000000"><font color="#006600">Bench Play:</font> </font><font face="Verdana" color="#000000"><font color="#000080">Antoine Walker has been great off the bench offensively for the past two games. He needs to continue to play well, and other guys need to step up as well. It'd be nice to see Corey Brewer have himself a big game, and for some reason I have a feeling that Craig Smith is going to have a nice night. The bench needs to step up against this tired New Orleans club</font></font><font face="Verdana" color="#000000"><font color="#000080">.</font>
</font>[/list]
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<h4 align="center"><font size="4" face="Verdana" color="#000000">X-Factors</font></h4>
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<font face="Verdana" color="#000000"><font color="#ff0000"> <font color="#ffcc00">Morris Peterson</font></font></font>
<font face="Verdana" color="#000000"><font color="#ff0000">
</font></font><font face="Verdana" color="#009900"><font color="#33cccc">"Mo-Pete" has had a very up-and-down start to the young 07-08 regular season. The vet had a relatively quiet 3-point game last night to follow up on Wednesday's big 27-point performance. If Morris Peterson can come in and have another one of those big offensive games, that would be give them a great lift.</font>
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<font face="Verdana" color="#000000"><font color="#ff0000"> <font color="#006600">Sebastian Telfair</font></font></font>
<font face="Verdana" color="#000000"><font color="#ff0000">
</font></font><font face="Verdana" color="#ff0000"><font color="#000080">As mentioned before, Telfair matches up with Chris Paul better than any other Wolves guard. He should get big minutes tonight, and when he's in there, he needs to play well. He has been a little inconsistent with his own offense, and still hasn't been able to finish. He needs to finish, stick with CP3, and continue to run the offense well.</font>
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<h4 align="center"><font size="4" face="Verdana" color="#000000">Injury Report
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<font face="Verdana" color="#006600"><font color="#800080"><font color="#33cccc">None.</font></font></font></p>
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<font face="Verdana" color="#ff6600"><font color="#006600">Randy Foye:</font> </font><font face="Verdana" color="#000080">Left knee.
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<font face="Verdana" color="#ff0000"><font color="#0000ff"><font color="#006600">Mark Madsen:</font> <font color="#000080">Sore shoulder.</font></font></font></p>
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<h4><font size="4" color="#000000"><font face="Verdana">Prediction</font></font></h4>
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<td colspan="2"><font face="Verdana">This is a very winnable game for the Wolves, but even with New Orleans' big guns playing heavy minutes last night, it'll be no cake-walk. The Hornets are one of the hottest teams in the league at 8-2, and they have a lot of weapons. I think it's going to be a close game decided by single-digits, but I think the Wolves will fall short at the end once again.
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NBA: NEW ORLEANS at MINNESOTA

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


NEW ORLEANS MINNESOTA

F Peja Stojakovic F Ryan Gomes
F David West F Craig Smith
C Tyson Chandler C Al Jefferson
G Bobby Jackson G Rashad McCants
G Morris Peterson G Marko Jaric

OFFICIALS: Mike Callahan
Kevin Fehr
Bill Kennedy</div>

 

NBA: NEW ORLEANS at MINNESOTA

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

REVISED LINEUPS

NEW ORLEANS MINNESOTA

F Peja Stojakovic F Corey Brewer
F David West F Antoine Walker
C Tyson Chandler C Al Jefferson
G Jannero Pargo G Rashad McCants
G Morris Peterson G Marko Jaric

OFFICIALS: Mike Callahan
Kevin Fehr
Bill Kennedy</div>

 

NBA: NEW ORLEANS at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">NEW ORLEANS VS MINNESOTA - INACTIVES

NEW ORLEANS MINNESOTA

PLAYER NAME REASON PLAYER NAME REASON
A HALUSKA COACH'S DECISION T RATLIFF KNEE INJURY
C PAUL ANKLE INJURY M MADSEN SHOULDER
R FOYE LEFT PATELLA FRACTUR</div>

 

NBA: NEW ORLEANS at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">NBA NEW ORLEANS 8
MINNESOTA 12 6:20 LEFT, 1ST QTR</div>

 

NBA: NEW ORLEANS at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">NBA NEW ORLEANS 20
MINNESOTA 18 2:40 LEFT, 1ST QTR</div>

 

NBA: NEW ORLEANS at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">NBA NEW ORLEANS 25
MINNESOTA 21 END, 1ST QTR</div>

 

NBA: NEW ORLEANS at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">NBA END 1ST QTR 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
NEW ORLEANS 25 25
MINNESOTA 21 21 END 1ST QTR

HIGH SCORERS AFTER 1ST QUARTER

NOR - PEJA STOJAKOVIC 15, DAVID WEST 6, TYSON
CHANDLER 4
MIN - AL JEFFERSON 10, ANTOINE WALKER 6, MARKO
JARIC 3</div>

 

NBA: NEW ORLEANS at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">NBA NEW ORLEANS 27
MINNESOTA 27 8:45 LEFT, 2ND QTR</div>

 

NBA: NEW ORLEANS at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">NBA NEW ORLEANS 29
MINNESOTA 29 6:14 LEFT, 2ND QTR</div>

 

NBA: NEW ORLEANS at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">NBA NEW ORLEANS 33
MINNESOTA 35 3:24 LEFT, 2ND QTR</div>

 

NBA: NEW ORLEANS at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">NBA NEW ORLEANS 42
MINNESOTA 40 HALFTIME</div>

 

NBA: NEW ORLEANS at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">NBA HALFTIME 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
NEW ORLEANS 25 17 42
MINNESOTA 21 19 40 HALFTIME

HIGH SCORERS AT HALFTIME

NOR - PEJA STOJAKOVIC 15, DAVID WEST 10,
JANNERO PARGO 6
MIN - AL JEFFERSON 14, SEBASTIAN TELFAIR 8,
ANTOINE WALKER 6</div>

 

NBA: NEW ORLEANS at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">NBA NEW ORLEANS 49
MINNESOTA 44 8:55 LEFT, 3RD QTR</div>

 

NBA: NEW ORLEANS at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">NBA NEW ORLEANS 54
MINNESOTA 50 6:08 LEFT, 3RD QTR</div>

 

NBA: NEW ORLEANS at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">NBA NEW ORLEANS 65
MINNESOTA 58 2:55 LEFT, 3RD QTR</div>

 

NBA: NEW ORLEANS at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">NBA NEW ORLEANS 74
MINNESOTA 61 END, 3RD QTR</div>

 

NBA: NEW ORLEANS at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">NBA END 3RD QTR 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
NEW ORLEANS 25 17 32 74
MINNESOTA 21 19 21 61 END 3RD QTR

HIGH SCORERS AFTER 3RD QUARTER

NOR - PEJA STOJAKOVIC 22, TYSON CHANDLER 12,
DAVID WEST 12
MIN - AL JEFFERSON 20, ANTOINE WALKER 10,
MARKO JARIC 9</div>

 

NBA: NEW ORLEANS at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">NBA NEW ORLEANS 80
MINNESOTA 64 9:24 LEFT, 4TH QTR</div>