National Basketball Association

Peja Stojakovic out with lower abdominal strain

Published Mar. 11, 2010 1:29 a.m. ET

foxsports

The New Orleans Hornets' depleted starting lineup is taking another hit.

Forward Peja Stojakovic joined All-Star point guard Chris Paul on the injured list Wednesday, and he's expected to miss at least two weeks with a lower abdominal strain.

``That's a minimum timeframe, and it will all be dictated by the healing process,'' Jeff Bower, the Hornets' coach and general manager, said before his team's game at Oklahoma City.

Even before Stojakovic was hurt Monday in a victory against the Golden State Warriors, the Hornets had been scuffling. Entering Wednesday night, they had lost six of their last eight games to fall five games behind eighth-place Portland for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference.

Paul has missed 19 games following surgery on his left knee last month and was also sidelined for eight games earlier this season with an ankle injury.

``Injuries are a part of this, and they've had an impact on us, but our players have shown resiliency in the past and have understood that we have to just figure out a different way whenever someone goes down,'' Bower said. ``Our job is to put them in position to be successful, and we'll try to use the strengths of the players that we have available to us to help our team.''

Julian Wright made his eighth start of the season Wednesday night in place of Stojakovic, who had played in all but two of the Hornets' first 64 games this season and started 55 times.

``That phrase `if we stay healthy,' is not one that we use or will rely on,'' Bower said. ``We intend to continue to compete with whatever the injury situation is.''

Stojakovic averages 12.6 points and leads the team with 132 made 3-pointers this season. Wright had made only two 3-pointers in 52 games.

``That changes the defensive floor. The fact that he's spaced in the weakside corner or on the weakside wing changes how the lane is going to look,'' Bower said. ``That's going to be a big thing for us to have to deal with and overcome from an offensive flow and movement standpoint. That will have a big impact that we'll have to handle.''

Bower said he hoped Wright, a first-round pick in 2007, would use the extra playing time to further his development. With Paul out, rookie Darren Collison has emerged as a budding star for New Orleans, averaging 18.9 points and 8.8 assists in his 26 starts.

``I think he's done a good job using his physical talents, looking to be a bigger factor in transition and offensive board work,'' Bower said of Wright. ``I think his overall offensive game is coming along in a limited role.

``I think this opportunity is going to be a stretch where he'll get extended minutes and be able to settle into a comfort zone on the floor perhaps, and we could see an increased level of production from that standpoint.''

Paul casually shot around on the Ford Center floor prior to the game but Bower said he's progressing toward a return.

``When he's able to get back on the court and begin running, the transition will really take on a faster pace, and he's getting very close,'' Bower said. ``That's the next step for him.''