girllovesthegame

NEW ORLEANS -- Already playing without starting point guard Chris Paul, the Hornets lost starting center Tyson Chandler in the second quarter of Monday night's game against the Orlando Magic when he hyperextended his right knee.

Chandler was on crutches after the game, but smiled and said X-rays showed no ligament tears or broken bones. He added he may even return for the Hornets' next game on Wednesday night at home against Indiana.

"I'm feeling good," Chandler said. "I'm hoping not to miss anything."

The Hornets put up a fight but eventually lost to the Magic 95-88. Both teams had entered the game at 9-2.

Chandler was starting to run back to the Hornets' defensive end after a missed runner by Peja Stojakovic when he nearly tripped over a couple of players, including Stojakovic, as he turned up floor. He then took one more awkward step before collapsing, writhing in pain.

Trainers helped him to the locker room.

"I stepped on something and my whole leg went backwards and then it went numb and I thought: 'Oh god, I either tore something or I broke something.'"

Hilton Armstrong came in to replace him.

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girllovesthegame

The most anticipated individual matchup between the Hornets and the Orlando Magic ended prematurely Monday night at the New Orleans Arena.

Hornets center Tyson Chandler fell to the court with a little more than three minutes remaining in the second quarter, clutching his right knee and wincing. The replay showed his knee buckling as he ran up the court during the 95-88 Hornets loss, and the team released a statement at halftime that said he had a hyperextended knee and would be out for at least the rest of the game. After the game, his MRI exam results came back negative.

Chandler was in the Hornets' locker room, smiling, about a half hour after the game. He said he was trying to get back on defense when his knee went backward, and "everything went numb."


He also said his knee had been feeling better since the injury occurred. Chandler said that he never had a major knee injury, but he hyperextended his other knee in a game last week.

"I'm happy," Chandler said. "It's scary when you can't feel nothing."

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girllovesthegame

Hornets center Tyson Chandler might play in Wednesday night's home game against the Indiana Pacers, Chandler and coach Byron Scott said Tuesday morning at practice.

Chandler said he still had some swelling around his right knee but felt better after hyperextending it in a loss to the Orlando Magic on Monday night. He said he hoped to return Wednesday, and Scott said there was a 50-percent chance he would be able to play against the Pacers.

If Chandler is unable to play, Hilton Armstrong would likely be his replacement in the starting lineup, with Melvin Ely also seeing significant playing time.

Guard Chris Paul said he might return from a right ankle sprain that has kept him from playing in the Hornets' last two games. Paul participated in most of Tuesday's practice drills, while Chandler was doing rehabilitation exercises for his leg.

"It's tough, but at the same time, it's a better feeling knowing that I'm not on crutches or anything and that it's just temporary," Paul said after practice. "If I don't play tomorrow, I'm definitely going to play Friday."

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bee-fan

As much as I want them to win on tomorrow, I'd be okay with them holding out one more game to get healthier.

girllovesthegame

CP3 in, Tyson out for Pacers.

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bee-fan

I figured Chris would play and they would hold Tyson out at least for one more game. If Hilton could play O'neal the way he played Howard the other night we might be okay.