http://www.nola.com/hornets/t-p/index.ssf?/base/sports-1/1080210788211650.xml N.O. braces for stretch minus Davis Hornets guard sidelined indefinitely with ankle sprain Thursday March 25, 2004 By John Reid Staff writer Hornets point guard Baron Davis will not play against the Atlanta Hawks tonight and likely will miss more games because of a sprained left ankle. Davis was injured in the third quarter of Tuesday's 82-81 victory over the Detroit Pistons. Detroit guard Lindsey Hunter fell on Davis' ankle as they dove for a loose ball near midcourt. From Our Advertiser A team source said Wednesday the Hornets will sign former LSU guard Maurice Carter to a 10-day contract to provide depth in the backcourt until Davis returns. Carter was at the team's practice facility Wednesday before players began their workouts. The Hornets released a statement Wednesday saying an MRI test taken on Davis' ankle revealed a sprain, and he will be listed as day-to-day after tonight's game. But Coach Tim Floyd and most of the players said they expect Davis to miss more than one game. Davis had difficulty walking after the game Tuesday and did not attend practice Wednesday. "We had to (play without Davis) for three games this season, and chances are we're going to have to do it a little longer now. And that's something we're going have to live with," Floyd said. "It certainly will be difficult, because Baron is our engine and we play off him so much." Davis missed six games because of a sprained left ankle earlier this season. The Hornets went 2-4 in those games. Davis is the Hornets' leading scorer, averaging 23.1 points. In the seven games before Tuesday, he averaged 26.3 points, six rebounds and 6.6 assists. "This team is used to playing short-handed, and they've done it for the majority of the year," said Hornets executive vice president of basketball operations/general manager Bob Bass, who expects Davis to miss at least the next two games. "But we've got hopes that we can hang in there and win some games." On Tuesday, the Hornets ended the Pistons' eight-game winning streak when center Jamaal Magloire made the winning shot -- an 11-foot jumper at the buzzer. The Hornets also played one of their best defensive games, holding the Pistons to 12 points in the second quarter and limiting forward Rasheed Wallace to 10 points on 5-of-17 shooting. But tonight the Hornets face another challenge. The Hornets have lost seven consecutive road games, and 18 of their 34 losses have been against teams with losing records. The Hawks are 27 games below .500. The Hawks have 14 victories at home, one against the Hornets in November. The Hornets haven't won a road game since their first game back from the All-Star break Feb. 17, when they defeated the Indiana Pacers 89-75. "It's hard to repeat efforts such as holding our opponents to low (shooting) percentages from the field, but again, we've got to find a way to do it," Magloire said. To offset the loss of Davis, Floyd likely will rely more on his bench. He plans to juggle his lineup between Darrell Armstrong and Shammond Williams at starting point guard until Davis returns. "There is a possibility we might start Shammond over Darrell just to keep our rotation in line to what we've been doing with our second unit," Floyd said. "They have given us a lot of energy off the bench." Armstrong led the backups with 14 points and had four steals against the Pistons. Forward David West has been an exceptional rebounder, and backup forward George Lynch has shot well from the perimeter the past two games. "It's down to the nitty gritty, and we've got to make sure to stay focused and be ready to play," Armstrong said. "I know I'm going to make sure the guys are going to come out and be ready, because this is the time of the year where you've got to play at a high level. We can't give games up now." The Hornets still hold the fourth seed in the Eastern Conference playoff race with 11 games remaining in the regular season. Starting next week, the Hornets go on a five-game trip to the West, with the Los Angeles Lakers and Sacramento Kings included among the opponents. "Without Baron it's definitely going to be a lot tougher. We need him because he's our leader," Magloire said. "But we're not going to make any excuses. We're looking to win, and we've been faced with adversity all year, so it shouldn't be anything that we're not used to." 怪兽还没回来 小胖脚扭到 短时间不会回来 接下来对完老鹰要打西区客场五连战 包含对上湖人跟国王 恩 @@... -- 请多多指教 <(_._)> --

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