Wolves and Hornets just tipped off at New Orleans Arena and Al Jefferson is back in the starting lineup after missing two games on a personal leave to be with a female relative was was hospitalized in the Twin Cities.

That moves Kevin Love back to the bench after consecutive 18-point games in Jefferson's absence.

No Chris Paul tonight for the Hornets. He's out for the rest of the season, which is, well, just one for game at Houston for them.

So instead we'll see Jonny Flynn against fellow rookie Darren Collison, who's done all right for himself during the 35 games Paul has missed because of injury this season. He could make the All Rookie team.

The Wolves fly to San Antonio after tonight's game. Hopefully, they'll get safely: Last night, several players -- Jonny Flynn, Kevin Love, Ryan Gomes, Wayne Ellington, Brian Cardinal -- were strolling in and near the French Quarter a little after nine and came upon the shooting of seven people in Canal Street at the edge of the Quarter.

"If we'd been four or five minutes earlier, we would have been right in the middle of it," Flynn said.