Chris Paul says left thumb injury won't keep him out of crucial Game 4

By John Reid, The Times Picayune The Times-Picayune

Despite having a thumb injury, New Orleans Hornets point guard Chris Paul said he will play in tonight’s crucial Game 4 against the Los Angeles Lakers at the New Orleans Arena.

Hornets Coach Monty Williams disclosed Paul’s injury after Saturday’s practice, when Paul had his left thumb and wrist wrapped in black tape.

Paul said he didn’t know how the injury occurred in Friday night’s 100-86 Game 3 loss.

“I don’t even remember; one of the times I was reaching,’’ Paul said. “I have no clue. It’s better. I’ll be all right by (today).’’

Paul scored 22 points Friday night but was held to four points in the second half, when he attempted only three shots.

“Listening to him and watching him, he said he’s good to play,’’ Williams said. “But we have to wait and see (today). It’s a thumb. It’s not his wrist or a tendon or a bone.

“It’s the NBA; a lot of guys are walking around bumped and bruised. These are the things you play with at this time of the year.’’

After three series games, Paul is averaging 25 points and is shooting 59.5 percent. He is averaging 10.3 assists and 5.0 rebounds.

“All that matters is how we come out for Game 4,’’ Paul said.

NO REPEAT: In last week’s Game 1, Hornets reserves outscored the Los Angeles Lakers’ bench by 18 points. They made 16 of 22 shots, and center Aaron Gray made all five attempts for a season-high 12 points.

But neither Gray nor the rest of the backups have performed at the same level since the Hornets’ stunning 109-100 victory at the Staples Center. The Hornets haven’t won since, and the Lakers holding a 2-1 series lead.

In Friday night’s Game 3 loss, the Hornets’ bench was outscored 20-9 by the Lakers’ reserves. Since Game 1, the Hornets reserves have made nine of 34 shots for 22 points.

“I’m not disappointed, but I think our bench can do some things better,’’ Williams said. “Looking at the film as many times I’ve looked at it in the past few hours, we’re getting open looks. Guys have to knock open shots down.’’

Backup guard Jarrett Jack made five of six for 15 points in Game 1, but has combined for eight points in the past two games. Jack went 1-of-6 and scored two points in 26 minutes Friday.

Backup shooting guard Willie Green is averaging 4.3 points — four points below his regular-season average.

“Our shots just haven’t been falling in the last two games,’’ said backup forward Quincy Pondexter, who went scoreless in six minutes during Game 3. “We’ve got to find a common ground and try to get a win.’’

PEAKING: Forward Trevor Ariza has not had a problem making an impact against the Lakers, his former team. Ariza has scored in double figures in consecutive games after finishing with six points in Game 1. He had 12 points, four steals, three assists and two blocks in Game 3. And Ariza’s 12 rebounds tied his career high.

“Instead of waiting for the game to come to me, I’m really trying to establish my game,’’ Ariza said.

Ariza has spent most of the series defending Lakers guard Kobe Bryant, who scored a game–high 30 points Friday.

“(Ariza) gets a lot of criticism for not giving us the offense,’’ Williams said. “But he guards a tough guy every night, and I put a lot of pressure on him.’’

LACKING STOPS: For the second straight game, the Lakers hammered the Hornets inside. After scoring 50 points in the lane in their 87-78 Game 2 victory, the Lakers scored 48 points inside on Friday night. Lakers’ 7-footers Andrew Bynum and Pau Gasol combined to score 31 points and grab 21 rebounds. Gasol broke from a two-game shooting slump for 17 points.

Williams said the Hornets’ weakside defensive pressure was embarrassing because they came too late to contest the Lakers’ dunks and layups.

“We have to make an effort to get stops,’’ Williams said. “It’s not that you are going to keep them out of the paint, but you can’t make it as easy as it been the past couple of games.’’

SELLOUT: Hornets officials said tonight’s game is a sellout. Fans attending will be issued free rally towels at the door. A sellout crowd of 18,340 attended Friday night’s Game 3 at the Arena. The series shifts back to the Staples Center on Tuesday night for Game 5.

Source: http://www.nola.com