On a night when star rookie point guard Chris Paul and backup Speedy Claxton each left with injuries and Seattle's Rashard Lewis scored 34 points, the Hornets managed to beat the SuperSonics 109-102 on Wednesday.

Chris Paul played 20 minutes, leaving for good early in the third quarter with bruised ribs. A blow to the head left Speedy Claxton with a mild concussion. He played less than a minute in the second quarter.

"Hopefully, one of them will be back soon -- soon being Friday," coach Byron Scott said. Without Paul and Claxton, "It puts a lot more emphasis on guys to play a lot more minutes. But that's pro basketball. You've got to be ready to play."