<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">LAS VEGAS -- Hornets top draft pick Chris Paul, who sprained his right wrist last week, returned to the starting lineup at point guard Tuesday afternoon against the New Jersey Nets and played 32 minutes. Paul said his wrist was a little sore, but he refused to blame the injury for missing all eight shots and scoring one point in the Hornets' 84-67 victory, their first after three losses in the Vegas Summer League. "One time there was a loose ball and my wrist got hit a little bit, but I'm ready to play," Paul said. "There isn't anything more fun than playing, and I hate when they take me out because I love to play so much. But I just couldn't make a shot today -- I was short every time." Paul sprained his wrist near the end of Friday night's game against the Washington Wizards. X-rays revealed no serious damage. He missed Sunday's game against the Orlando Magic but did some limited work at Monday's practice. Paul had four assists, two steals and seven rebounds against the Nets, but he didn't score until a free throw with 3:01 remaining in the game. "I didn't know he was going to play today, so when I saw him out there I was a little shocked," Hornets coach Byron Scott said. "He's a competitor who wants to play, even if it's just summer league. It just shows you how he's going to be in the regular season, not wanting to miss games." </div> Source
