Check out the Lakers Gameday Preview for injury reports, preview, and probable starting line-ups. Go to Lakers Courtside Connection to get today’s Scouting Report. Also check out Forum Blue & Gold’s game preview (and not just because it links to us today). For the opposing view look at the Hornets Courtside Live blog and the Rival Report on Hornets.com. More Hornets info can be found at Hornets247.com
Things You Already Know:
Along with the Lakers, the Hornets are one of the NBA’s hottest teams, currently sporting a 23-11 record going into the team’s matchup tonight. The Lakers have won 13 of their last 16 games, 
while the Hornets have won eight of their past 10 to climb to within one game of the conference-leading Phoenix Suns.
Hornets guard Chris Paul is having an MVP caliber season, averaging 22 points, 10 assists and three steals per game to lead New Orleans to its best start in franchise history. Paul went off for a career night against the Lakers in the Hornets’ 118-104 victory at STAPLES Center in November, dishing out 21 assists to go along with 19 points. Peja Stojakovic also put on a show, making 10 of 13 three pointers en route to 36 points.
Things You Might Not Know:
Although the Hornets’ roster boasts several known commodities such as former Kings’ sharpshooter Peja Stojakovic and Tyson Chandler, David West is actually second on the team in scoring with over 19 points a game to go along with his nine rebounds.
West is one fifth of a starting unit that plays heavy minutes for the Hornets, joining Paul, Chandler, Stojakovic and Morris Peterson in the starting lineup. Of the five, only Peterson averages less than 30 minutes a night. Former Laker Jannero Pargo, Bobby Jackson, Rasual Butler and Melvin Ely form the majority of a relatively thin bench for New Orleans.
Despite the Hornets’ strong play to open up the season, they are an uninspiring 9-6 at home so far, playing in front of a paltry 11,871 fans per game—the worst attendance figure in the league.
Things You Need To Know:
By the time the Lakers roll into town after playing Memphis last night, the Hornets will have had a total of four days off since they toppled the Suns in Phoenix—without West no less— on Saturday night. The Lakers have struggled this season in back-to-back games, but hopefully an easy victory over the Grizzlies will help the team wrestle with a well-rested New Orleans squad.
The Hornets give up only 93 points—good enough for fourth best in the NBA. Tyson Chandler’s 12 rebounds a game anchor the New Orleans frontline while Paul’s three steals headline the Hornets’ backcourt.
Paul, in particular, has been on a tear the past four games, averaging 23 points and 11 rebounds while leading New Orleans to consecutive road victories over the Suns and Warriors. The Lakers always seem to struggle against quick point guards like Steve Nash, Jason Kidd, Mike Bibby and the like, so stopping Paul will likely prove crucial to the outcome of Wednesday’s game.
