NIGHTMARE IN NEW ORLEANS

LaMarcus Aldridge had 20 points and 13 rebounds, helping Portland to an 86-78 victory over a New Orleans team on Friday night that lost Chris Paul to a sprained ankle while trying to adjust to new head coach Jeff Bower. The Hornets trailed for most of their first game since the firing of Byron Scott on Thursday. Bower and new top assistant Tim Floyd struggled to find a lineup that could score consistently even when Paul was in the game. Paul sprained his left ankle at the end of the third quarter, moments after setting up Hilton Armstrong's dunk that cut Portland's lead to 62-52. Without Chris Paul and Byron Scott, the 3-7 Hornets could be finished for good.