Hornets attempt to halt losing streak against Bulls

The Hornets’ latest setback came Tuesday in Oklahoma City, where Toronto put together a big second half to post a 94-77 victory.

Chris Paul led the Hornets with 16 points but only finished 6-of-16 from the floor. The second-year sensation added 11 assists in the loss. Former Bull Tyson Chandler grabbed 17 rebounds in defeat.

Chandler spent his first five seasons in Chicago before being traded to the Hornets during the offseason in a deal which landed veteran P.J. Brown in a Bulls’ uniform.

The Hornets are averaging just 78 points during their current slide and haven’t scored more than 83 in a game over the course of the streak. New Orleans/Oklahoma City averaged 96.5 points during its 8-3 start to the season.

The team’s downfall has coincided with injuries to two of its top players in forwards Peja Stojakovic and David West. Stojakovic has missed the last two games because of a lower back strain, while West hasn’t played since November 12 due to a strained right forearm. Both men are expected to be sidelined again tonight.

The Hornets may also be without guard Bobby Jackson, who hurt his ribs in Tuesday’s loss.

Chicago finally appears to be headed in the opposite direction, as the Bulls have won two in a row after a disappointing 3-9 beginning to the 2006-07 campaign. Both of those victories came at the expense of the New York Knicks, including Tuesday’s 102-85 triumph at the United Center in the finale of the home-and-home series.

Ben Gordon poured in 23 points and Chris Duhon netted 17 to help the Bulls record back-to-back wins for the first time this season. Brown added 14 points in the triumph.

Ben Wallace finished with eight points and 12 rebounds in his first game since being fined by the Bulls for violating the team’s ban on headbands in Saturday’s win over the Knicks.

The teams split two meetings last season, with Chicago dropping a 100-95 decision last February in their first-ever visit to the Ford Center.