The Hornets proved they're one of the NBA's best when they won their third straight game on the season 104-92 over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Saturday night at the Arena.
The Hornets (3-0) were without two of their best players because of injuries. The Cavs (1-2) had a lead before melting down in the fourth quarter.
Before the home-opener game, Hornets owner George Shinn told the crowd that he expected Chris Paul to win the NBA's MVP award this season. The Hornets' point guard is off to a good start and one-upped a major competitor in LeRon James in this game. Using his slick moves to confuse and frustrate the Cavs' defense, Paul scored 24 points with 15 assists. He was huge in the fourth quarter alone when he almost always made the correct decisions with the ball. Often, the Cavs had to foul him to keep him from getting away. He punished them by going 10-of-11 from the foul line.
When Paul didn't keep the ball, he often looked for David West, who like Paul, seemed to solve any defender the Cavs put on him on his way to 25 points. James finished with just 15 points.
James Posey, who defended James most of the night, was very effective on offense to make up for missing Peja Stojakovic. who was out with an ankle sprain. Center Tyson missed he game with an ankle sprain.
Posey hit five three-pointers and scored 15 points with six rebounds and four steals.
Hornets reserve Devin Brown was with the Cavs last season, but fell out of the team's rotation in the playoffs and became a free agent after the Cavs didn't offer him a contract. He ended up signing with the Hornets for $1 million. Brown scored three points with three rebounds in the 17 minutes he played for the Hornets against the Cavs.
Tigers creep by Wave
Looking ahead to next week's game against Alabama and coach Nick Saban, LSU went through enough motions and beat once-rival Tulane 35-10 on Saturday night at Tiger Stadium.
There wasn't much pregame traffic and the old stadium was closer to empty than full by the fourth quarter. Tulane fans bought 4,000 of their allotted 7,000 tickets for the game.
The electricity and pageantry of college football was missing.
And to top the evening off, LSU quarterback Jarrett Lee threw an interception for the fifth time that was returned for a touchdown. Lee was booed after the interception when he returned under center and true freshman Jordan Jefferson was cheers later when he entered he game with 4:08 to play. With Andrew Hatch injured, Lee is kind of a caretaker of the quarterback position until Jefferson has enough experience to win games.
Jefferson didn't attempt a pass but handed off to freshman Stevan Ridley, who carried 5 times for 51 yards, including a 2-yard TD burst. A running star could have been born in this brief exhibition. He's 5-11 and 209 pounds and double as a fullback. He prepped at Trinity Episcopal in Natchez.
Lee finished 8-of-20 passing for 99 yards and one touchdown. Charles Scott was clearly the Tigers' best offensive weapon with 112 yards on 12 carries.
LSU (6-2, 3-2 SEC) will host No. 2-ranked Alabama and Saban at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday on CBS. With Texas Tech defeating No. 1 Texas 39-33 on Saturday night, either Alabama or No. 6 Texas Tech could move to No. 1 on Sunday.
"We might welcome the No. 1 team in the country on Saturday, and we look forward to playing them," said Tigers coach Les Miles.
No quarterback in Tigers history has thrown more interceptions returned for touchdowns than Lee, who has five.
"If it means a change in philosophy, it might be that," said Miles. "We have to make sure we're throwing the ball efficiently. Incompletions are preferred."
"We could have played a lot better, but this was a good game to build on for next week," said Tigers defensive end Kirston Pittman "We'll be ready for that game. The entire team is going to be excited about that game, much more than for this game." Teams like Florida, Georgia and Alabama can take the excitement out of LSU games quickly this season.
LSU linebacker Darry Beckwith's take on Alabama coming to town: "It's going to be a big game. Ole Saint Nick is coming back. It's going to be special."
The Hornets proved they're one of the NBA's best when they won their third straight game on the season 104-92 over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Saturday night at the Arena.
