Hornets send Mashburn home

Mashburn, who was not put on the team’s playoff roster and is ineligible for any postseason action, complained to a Miami newspaper that the Hornets mishandled his medical care. The Hornets decided to send him home after the complaints were made public.

The 31-year-old Mashburn has missed 111 regular-season games since he joined the organization in a 2000 trade. The former All-Star missed all but 19 games this season with a bruised right knee.

He was the club’s second-leading scorer behind Baron Davis during the campaign with 20.8 points per game in 18 starts and one reserve appearance. Mashburn missed the first 44 contests of the season and went back on the injured list with more knee problems after his 19 appearances.

Mashburn was the Hornets’ leading scorer during the 2002-03 campaign with a 21.6 points-per-game average. He played in all 82 games in the 2002-03 season, including 81 starts, and also averaged 6.1 rebounds and 5.6 assists per contest.

New Orleans will face the Heat in Game 2 of its first round matchup Wednesday night at AmericanAirlines Arena. Miami holds a 1-0 series lead in the best- of-seven matchup.