Hornets buzz into Rose Garden vs. Blazers

Portland has lost eight of its last nine games, including Friday’s 102-96 home loss versus the Boston Celtics.

Martell Webster notched career-highs of 24 points and eight rebounds for Portland, which is 2-5 in its last seven home games. Webster, the sixth overall pick in the 2005 draft, made just his eighth start of the season.

Guard Sebastian Telfair will sit out Sunday’s game, the second of a two-game league-imposed suspension for carrying a loaded gun on a flight two weeks ago.

In other team news, center Joel Przybilla has missed seven straight games with a knee injury, while swingman Theo Ratliff has been out for the last five games with an injured ankle.

The Blazers, who reside in last place in the Northwest Division, are 12-15 at home this season.

Meanwhile, the Hornets ended a two-game losing streak on Saturday when Chris Paul recorded 23 points and eight assists in a 100-95 win over the Utah Jazz in the back end of a home-and-home series at the Delta Center.

The Hornets, who are 1-0 on their current four-game road trip, avenged Wednesday’s 82-76 loss against Utah at the Ford Center.

New Orleans/Oklahoma City will take it to Portland, a team it has beaten twice in three meetings this season.

The Trail Blazers posted a 98-95 overtime win on December 9, but the Hornets stung back with home wins on January 6 and February 15.

The Hornets have won six of the last eight meetings, including three of five at the Rose Garden.