Originally published Sunday, May 18, 2008 at 12:00 AM

NBA Notebook | Hornets' West expects to be ready for Game 7

A hard shot to David West's ailing back finished him for the fourth quarter of the Hornets' blowout loss at San Antonio in Game 6. Game 7 on Monday...

By The Associated Press

NEW ORLEANS — A hard shot to David West's ailing back finished him for the fourth quarter of the Hornets' blowout loss at San Antonio in Game 6.

Game 7 on Monday night is another matter entirely.

One day of rest proved enough for the Hornets' All-Star forward to get back on the court for Saturday's practice, working on his game-changing array of midrange jumpers, fadeaways and post-up moves.

That was a relief to teammates, who were understandably concerned when West was facedown on the court in San Antonio on Thursday, his left arm bent awkwardly over his lower back, after a hard screen set from behind by Spurs veteran Robert Horry.

"If you come to practice and one of your best players is hurt, and you see him out here getting some shots up, that's the sign of a warrior," Hornets guard Morris Peterson said.

Horry was greeted Saturday with lingering questions about his motives for the hard foul.

"Very silly," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said of the scrutiny. "It was just a basketball play."

Popovich, known for sporadic surliness and sarcasm, added: "We're maybe the dirtiest team in the NBA. We always have been. We've been known for that. ... We wear black."

Note

• Boston is back home again, and that's been the surest sign of success for the Celtics so far in this year's playoffs — they are undefeated at the new Boston Garden in this postseason.

"This is the reason we got the best record in the NBA," forward Paul Pierce said of Celtics, who host Cleveland in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference semifinals today. "We've got to play one more great game in order to advance."

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