NEW ORLEANS (AP) Baron Davis and Jamal Mashburn both returned to the Hornets' lineup, Mashburn for the first time this season, as New Orleans hosted the Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday night

Davis, who sprained his left ankle Jan. 19 at Minnesota and hadn't played in three games since, was in the starting lineup and swished his first shot, a baseline jumper from about 17 feet away.

Mashburn, who banged his right knee in training camp and had minor surgery, came off the bench to loud applause after a timeout with 5:58 left in the first quarter. His first shot, a fallaway jumper, was partially blocked.

Davis has been the Hornets scoring leader this season, averaging 23.4 points. Mashburn was an All-Star and the Hornets' leading scorer last season, averaging 21.6 points. He participated in his first practice Monday.

NEW ORLEANS (AP) All-Star forward Jamal Mashburn was activated from the injured list by the New Orleans Hornets and is expected to play his first game of the season Wednesday night.

Mashburn has been sidelined since hurting his right knee early in training camp. He had surgery, missing all eight preseason games and 44 regular-season games.

``I haven't lost anything,'' he said.

At 25-19, the Hornets are tied for third in the Central Division. They host the Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday.

Mashburn led the team last season with 21.6 points per game and was one of only five NBA players who averaged at least 20 points, six rebounds and five assists.

``I think the guys are definitely glad to see him. He looks real good,'' Darrell Armstrong said. ``It looks like he's shooting the ball good and it looks like he's been working on his game.''

To make room on the roster, the Hornets put reserve guard Bryce Drew on the injured list.

NEW ORLEANS (AP) Guard Tierre Brown signed a 10-day contract Monday with the New Orleans Hornets, whose starting backcourt is injured.

Brown played 15 games for the Cleveland Cavaliers last season and 40 games for the Houston Rockets two seasons ago.

He's expected to back up Darrell Armstrong, a starter since David Wesley sprained his left big toe Jan. 16. Baron Davis, the other starting guard, has been out since spraining his left ankle three days later.

Brown has been playing in the National Basketball Development League.

NEW ORLEANS (AP) Hornets guard Baron Davis will miss two more games with a sprained left ankle.

Davis already sat out Wednesday's 92-86 loss to Philadelphia.

He was injured during the fourth quarter of Monday's game at Minnesota. He will miss Friday's game in Denver and Saturday's home game against San Antonio.

Forward David West, who has missed five games with a sore right knee, also will not play against Denver.

NEW ORLEANS (AP) Hornets guard Baron Davis is doubtful for Wednesday night's game against Philadelphia because of a sprained left ankle.

Davis hurt himself in the fourth quarter of Monday night's game at Minnesota.

New Orleans' David West and Sean Rooks also are doubtful for the game against the 76ers.

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) New Orleans guard Baron Davis left midway through the fourth quarter of Monday's game against Minnesota with a sprained left ankle.

Davis had 25 points for the Hornets, who trailed the Timberwolves 85-84 when their All-Star hobbled off the court to the visitor's locker room.

Off to his best start as a pro in his fifth season, Davis hurt his ankle as he landed following a jump shot with Sam Cassell guarding him. He grimaced in pain as he left.

NEW ORLEANS (AP) Hornets guard David Wesley was placed on the injured list Saturday with a sprained big toe on his left foot.

Wesley was hurt in the fourth quarter of Thursday night's 78-74 overtime loss to Toronto. Wesley is second on the team in scoring, averaging 15.5 points a game.

NEW ORLEANS (AP) When the New Orleans Hornets tied the franchise's best start ever with a 17-7 record, coach Tim Floyd declined to take credit.

That's not surprising considering that, in his last gig, he went 49-190 in a little more than three seasons with the post-Michael Jordan era Bulls.

``What's happening with our team is a result of our players, period,'' Floyd said about his Hornets. ``It doesn't have anything to do with me.''

Then again, maybe it does.

The Hornets, playing since training camp without All-Star forward Jamal Mashburn, have had a few slumps but appear on pace to make a run at the playoffs. They are also helping Floyd prove he's a better coach than his past record indicates.

This is Floyd's first season back in the NBA since resigning about two years ago from a terrible Bulls team loaded with young, inexperienced players.

Floyd says he was humbled by his losing record in his first NBA job, where he was part of a rebuilding project following the departure of Jordan and other top players.

He didn't want to be judged by that experience. And, avoiding hypocrisy, he won't take credit when the Hornets win.

``We as a staff feel really fortunate to a have team that can win,'' Floyd said.

Heading into the weekend, the Hornets had lost 10 of their last 15 games, but are still above .500, tied with Milwaukee for third place in the Central Division.

San Antonio Spurs coach Greg Popovich never doubted Floyd's coaching ability, and even sought to hire him as an assistant before last season.

``He didn't just get smart over the last year,'' Popovich said. ``He believes the same things he used to believe, but it's amazing how a little bit of talent makes us coaches look really smart. He's a hell of a coach.''

Floyd said he wasn't yet ready when Popovich called.

But New Orleans was a good place for Floyd to return to the NBA. Not only does the team have talent, but New Orleans is the Mississippi native's adopted hometown. He was already well regarded here from his days at the University of New Orleans, which he coached to two NCAA tournaments in the early 1990s.

This season, Floyd has even impressed experienced NBA players.

He made one such move in a loss to Indiana. With New Orleans down by a point and with only 1 second left, Floyd designed an alley-oop in-bounds pass to rookie David West on a backdoor cut. West was wide open, but he shot the ball off the glass a bit too hard.

``It was a great play,'' Hornets veteran forward P.J. Brown recalled. ``It didn't work out, but it was there to be made and I was like, wow.''

Brown was involved on a last-second inbound play that did work at Detroit. He found Baron Davis at the three point line as Davis cut to the far side of the court. The pass drew out Ben Wallace, who then watched Davis fake a shot and drive right past him for a game-winning dunk.

``Coach has got some tricks in his bag, there's no doubt about that,'' Brown said. ``He seems to pull out things that opposing teams are not prepared for.''

Mashburn is due to return to practice on Jan. 26, giving the Hornets a shot to make a serious run at the top of the standings during the second half of the season. His return could potentially take considerable pressure off Davis, who is met with double-teams routinely when he gets the ball.

Floyd refuses to use Mashburn's absence as an excuse.

``I don't think Jamal would want us to,'' Floyd said. ``We welcome him when he returns, but all we can do now is focus on what we have here now.''

However, if the Hornets continue slumping after Mashburn's return or if they have an early exit from the playoffs, Floyd could be in trouble. Paul Silas was fired after not getting the Hornets past the first round last season.

Barring further injuries, the Hornets not only will have two All-Star caliber players in Mashburn and Davis, but also an emerging young center in Jamaal Magloire and solid role players in P.J. Brown and David Wesley. They'll also have lots of experience throughout the lineup: Eight New Orleans players have spent at least nine years in the NBA.

``Our whole approach is we're going to listen to what our players have to say,'' Floyd said. ``We have an older team that has accumulated a lot of experiences in this league and we value what they have to say. That doesn't mean we always do what they suggest, but often times we do.''

Floyd has a little over half a season to make that work.

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) A shoving match between Indiana's Al Harrington and New Orleans' George Lynch escalated into a fight Saturday night, leading to the ejections of Harrington, Lynch and New Orleans center Jamaal Magloire.

The fight broke out with 9:15 to play in the fourth quarter when Harrington was called for a foul on Lynch near the Pacers' bench. After the foul, Lynch elbowed Harrington in the jaw and Harrington responded by first shoving Lynch, then tackling him into the Pacers' bench.

A melee ensued, with several Hornets and Pacers piling into the area.

As several players, including Indiana's Jermaine O'Neal and Ron Artest, tried to break up the fight, Magloire came from across the court and dived into the pile.

O'Neal tried to restrain Magloire and pull him away, and Magloire responded by shoving O'Neal.

After an extended delay, the three ejections were announced and play resumed with Indiana leading 75-57.

Ordinarily when Hornets center Jamaal Magloire comes home, conversation usually comes around to the possibilities of Magloire returning to play for the hometown team.

Having signed a three-year contract extension in New Orleans at the end of October, however, those who cover the Raptors on Friday were talking with Magloire about something else: the likelihood of making the Eastern Conference All-Star team.
   
"I definitely think I've got a chance," Magloire said. "I think I've got as good a chance as anybody else in the East."

His coach, Tim Floyd, agrees, and throws forward P.J. Brown into the All-Star mix, as well.

"When you look at what he's done, he's made great improvement since the first two weeks of the season," Floyd said of Magloire. "He's definitely All-Star caliber, and P.J. is as well.

"If the fans don't vote him in, I'd hope that the coaches would value what both he and P.J. would bring to a team. I never check the voting -- where they stand doesn't mean they won't make it. The coaches know."