November 2
New Orleans Times-Picayune
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Hornets forward Rasual Butler got his first start Saturday night against the Cleveland Cavaliers, replacing Peja Stojakovic, who is sidelined with a sprained right ankle. Coach Byron Scott made the announcement at the shootaround practice Saturday morning at the New Orleans Arena. Starting center Tyson Chandler missed his second consecutive game, also because of a sprained right ankle. "Tyson, I suspect, will be ready as early as Wednesday," Scott said. "Peja's ankle looked like a baseball was in there; it was that swollen." Stojakovic was injured during the fourth quarter of the Hornets' 108-95 victory against the Phoenix Suns on Thursday night after he went up to contest a jump shot ..."
October 26
New Orleans Times-Picayune
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Although it's approaching two years since Peja Stojakovic required season-ending back surgery, he remains fearful of another injury. Before practices and games, Stojakovic said he thinks about the sharp, lower-back pain that has plagued him since the 2005-06 season, when he was traded from the Sacramento Kings to the Indiana Pacers. The thought somewhat subsides once the game begins, but not completely. "I always think about it," said Stojakovic, who had surgery in December 2006 to remove a disc fragment. "It's always at the back of your mind that something is going to happen." So far, his back is holding up. Stojakovic has not missed practice time during training camp, and he had ..."