http://www.nola.com/hornets/t-p/index.ssf?/base/sports-1/1082357786244040.xml Armstrong plays through pain of sore right ankle Hornets again suffer lapse in third quarter Monday, April 19, 2004 By John Reid Staff writer MIAMI -- Hornets backup point guard Darrell Armstrong's right ankle was sore and swollen before Sunday's opening-round playoff game against the Miami Heat at AmericanAirlines Arena. But it didn't keep him from playing. Armstrong reinjured his ankle Saturday during a practice at the Alario Center. "I can't complain; it felt better than I thought it would be this morning," Armstrong said. "I thought I wouldn't be able to do anything." In the first quarter, Armstrong played three minutes so Coach Tim Floyd and his staff could determine whether he could play without limitations. Armstrong passed the test and played long stretches in the second half after starting guard Baron Davis got into foul trouble. Armstrong missed the final three games of the regular season after badly spraining his right ankle in the fourth quarter against the Boston Celtics on April 9. "I had to give it a try, because I worked my butt off," Armstrong said. "It's swollen up, but not as much as the first time (April 9)." TOUGH GAME: Davis got a scare two minutes into the game when he drove and re-aggravated his sprained right ankle after colliding with Heat forward Caron Butler. Davis was limited until he got his ankle retaped. Still, he struggled for the half with foul problems and poor shooting. He missed seven of nine shots and committed his third foul with 5.1 seconds left before halftime. Davis finished with 17 points but made four of 15 shots. GOOD DEFENSE: In the opening 10 minutes of the second quarter, the Hornets' defense didn't allow many backdoor plays. They clogged the middle with two and three defenders to keep the Heat from making driving shots. They forced the Heat to miss its first nine shots to start the quarter. The Hornets eventually led by 10 after the Heat missed 17 of 20 shots. SECOND-QUARTER HELP: Hornets forward Stacey Augmon came off the bench to start the second quarter and made his first two shots, both 17-foot jumpers. Two minutes later, he hit an 8-foot jumper and forced a charging foul on Butler. Augmon led all scorers with eight points in the quarter. STREAK ALIVE: Heat guard Rafer Alston had made at least one 3-pointer in 48 consecutive games. He made it 49 in a row with 1:49 remaining in the third quarter after missing on three attempts in the first half. BAD QUARTER: The Hornets began the third quarter with a 44-41 lead, but they couldn't hold it. They committed seven turnovers in the quarter, and the Heat's fast-break attack worked to perfection with guard Dwyane Wade scoring nine points during the quarter. The Hornets had a delay of game call, and they committed a 24-second violation. The Heat entered the fourth quarter with a 66-59 lead. TOUGH AS EXPECTED: One of the toughest matchups for the Hornets in the series is Heat forward Lamar Odom. On Sunday, Odom was effective, scoring on drives and making timely short-range jumpers. Hornets forward P.J. Brown, who had the defensive assignment, said he had to keep Odom in front of him, but on several occasions he couldn't. Odom scored 17 points on 7-of-15 shooting. . . . . . . . John Reid can be reached at [email protected] or (504) 826-3405. --

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