--New Orleans coach Byron Scott said he voted for Nuggets forward Carmelo Anthony and guard Chauncey Billups for the All-Star Game. Reserves will be announced Thursday.
Scott, who said he's not hesitant to vote for players off losing teams, said he also voted for Minnesota's Al Jefferson.Due to recently being injured, Scott called Hornets forward David West an All-Star "long shot." He said Anthony, who has missed the past 10 games with a broken hand, is "a little bit" in the same boat.
Nuggets coach George Karl has agreed Anthony's injury could hamper him. Anthony said he "ain't worrying about" his chances. Billups said he's "not nervous" about the announcing of the reserves.
"There's probably going to be some deserving guys that don't make it," Billups said. "I could be one of those guys, but we'll see what happens."
--C Chris Andersen on Wednesday played his first game in New Orleans since he was with the Hornets on April 6, 2005 against Denver. After that season, Hurricane Katrina struck and the Hornets moved games to Oklahoma City, and then Andersen was given a two-year NBA drug ban in January 2006. Andersen returned to play five New Orleans games last season. All were on the road.
Andersen on Wednesday didn't have the game he was seeking. A night after blocking five shots at Memphis, he had none.
Andersen scored four points and grabbed five rebounds in 20 minutes.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "Now, they got the upper hand. We got a chance to redeem ourselves." -- F Kenyon Martin, on losing to New Orleans 94-81 on Wednesday, giving the Hornets a 2-1 season advantage and moving them ahead of Denver into the No. 3 spot in the West. With the teams playing for a final time March 25 in New Orleans, they are battling for playoff positioning.
