With a busy upcoming stretch to end the regular season, the New OrleansHornets would like to clinch a spot in the postseason as soon as possible.

Theyll get that chance Wednesday night at home where theyll face theHouston Rockets, who would be on the brink of playoff elimination with a secondstraight defeat.

The Hornets (44-33), who play their final five games over the next eightdays, need only a victory over the ninth-place Rockets (41-37) to ensure theirreturn to the postseason following a one-year absence.

Fortunately for New Orleans, will be in the lineup to try to helpthe club accomplish that goal. The All-Star point guard suffered an apparentleft knee injury in Sundays 108-96 victory over Indiana after colliding withand crumbling to the floor.

Im good, said Paul, who finished with 18 points and eight assists.Scared me, too. I knocked knees, but Im all right.

The loss of Paul, fourth in the league with 9.8 assists per game, would havebeen devastating for a Hornets team already without forward whosuffered a season-ending ACL tear against Utah on March 24.

Former Rocket has filled in nicely since Wests injury,averaging 20.2 points and 6.4 rebounds in five games.

Sometimes youre stuck in the old teams habits, and were just trying todo our best to keep (Landry) abreast of what were doing and bringing himalong, said center averaging 12.7 points and 12.7 boards in threegames versus Houston this season.

Landry had 13 points off the bench in a 91-89 home loss to the Rockets onFeb. 27, his second game after being acquired from Sacramento.

New Orleans had won the previous five meetings in this Southwest Divisionrivalry, including two in Houston this season.

Another Hornets victory would do serious damage to the Rockets slim playoffhopes.

If Houston loses, it will have to win its final three games and eighth-placeMemphis would have to lose its remaining four for the Rockets to earn the finalplayoff spot.

Houston had a chance to move within two games of the Grizzlies, who fellone-half game behind New Orleans with Tuesdays 82-81 loss to the Los AngelesClippers, but coach Rick Adelmans team fell 104-101 to Sacramento, snapping aseven-game home winning streak.

It was a step back for the Rockets, who had won 15 of 20 since the All-Starbreak/

From the tipoff, we just seemed to not have our energy that we had for thelast couple of months, said after scoring 30 points. Its a badtime of year to not play like youve been playing for the last couple of months.For whatever reason, we just looked really tired in a lot of spurts.

Martin hasnt looked tired, scoring 30 points or more in three straight. Hehit four 3-pointers and finished with 33 points Feb. 27 to help Houston rallyfrom a 16-point second-half deficit.

The Rockets havent beaten the Hornets twice on the road in one season since2004-05.