Chandler, Stojakovic set to play against Atlanta

• By LES EAST
• Special to The Advocate
• Published: Nov 5, 2008 - Page: 1C - UPDATED: 12:05 a.m.

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NEW ORLEANS — The Hornets hope to have their starting five intact when they play the Atlanta Hawks at 7 p.m. today in the New Orleans Arena.

Center Tyson Chandler and forward Peja Stojakovic both practiced Tuesday after missing the home opener Saturday because of sprained right ankles.

“I was pretty surprised when Peja said he was good enough to practice today,” coach Byron Scott said. “To watch him out there, it didn’t look like he had any problems whatsoever. Both of them, we’ll see how they feel tomorrow at shootaround. But right now, I’d say both of them (will play).”

Scott said he originally thought Stojakovic, who was injured in a game at Phoenix on Thursday, might miss a week or two. Chandler has missed the last two games.

Despite the injuries, the Hornets have won their first three games, the last two by an average of 12.5 points.

In Stojakovic’s absence, Rasual Butler made his first start since Feb. 13 last season. He played 37 minutes and scored 14 points, making two key 3-pointers in the fourth quarter, and added four rebounds and three assists in a 104-02 victory against Cleveland.

Butler arrived early for training camp this season to try to regain the form he had as a solid backup in Miami before being traded to New Orleans four years ago. Things bottomed out for him last season as he did not play in a game after March. 3.

“He worked extremely hard this summer and obviously he has his confidence back,” Scott said. “I have a lot of faith in him by putting him in the starting lineup.”

Scott chose to start Butler because he likes the role James Posey has been filling as the leader of the second unit who stays on the floor at crunch time.

Posey has scored in double figures in all three games, making several key 3-pointers. He also has made several key defensive plays, and he and Butler has much to do with the Cavaliers’ LeBron James scoring just 15 points, half of his league-leading average last season.

Chandler’s absence meant a pair of starts for third-year center Hilton Armstrong, who held his own against two of the bigger centers in the league — the Suns’ Shaquille O’Neal and the Cavaliers’ Zydrunas Ilgauskas.

The third Hornet with a sprained right ankle — reserve forward Julian Wright — made his debut against Cleveland, but played just four minutes as he tries to get his conditioning back.

The Hornets bench, generally considered the only question mark on a championship contender, has been erratic but good enough for the team to be 3-0.