Dan Dickau had a career night scoring 19 points and dishing out 16 helping the Hornets beat the Sixers.

The Sixers were playing without NBA-leading scorer Allen Iverson, who missed his second straight game with a strained left shoulder.

Philadelphia is 0-4 on the season without their star guard.

The New Orleans Hornets announced today that they have received a league exemption to place guard Baron Davis on the Injured List with a bruised right Achilles tendon.  The team also signed guard Junior Harrington to a 10-day contract.

Davis suffered the injury during the Hornets? loss Jan. 16 at Toronto.  He left the game at the 1:51 mark of the third quarter (did not return) and has missed the last five games.  

Davis has averaged 19.7 points, 7.3 assists, 3.9 rebounds and 1.65 steals while shooting .371 (109-294) from the field, .326 (43-132) from three-point range and .771 (74-96) from the free throw line in 17 games with the Hornets this season.  He missed 19 games (17 on the Injured List) from Nov. 13 to Dec. 21 with an inflamed disc in his lower back.

Harrington began the season with the Hornets after signing as a free agent on Sept. 30 and averaged 6.4 points, 2.6 rebounds and 2.4 assists in 23 games before he was waived on Jan. 21.

It was no secret that New Jersey were trying to come up with a deal to acquire Jimmy Jackson from the New Orleans Hornets, but luckily for Rod Thorn and the Nets they failed.

According to Dave D'Alessandro of the Newark Star-Ledger, Jackson didn't rule out the possibility yesterday he might have alienated everyone in New Jersey just like he did in New Orleans by refusing to report after being traded.  Jackson, now with the Phoenix Suns, wanted to play for a contender after the Houston Rockets traded him on December 26.

Jackson didn't specifically say he wouldn't have reported to the Nets had they been able to trade for him. But the swingman did say that at the age of 34, he would have had to give a move to the Meadowlands some thought.

"Indications were that (the Nets) were really pushing strong," Jackson said last night before making his debut with the Suns. "And I guess if I really wanted to push the situation, I could have.

"But I still wanted to see my options. With the injuries that happened to New Jersey with Richard Jefferson, and with the trades, they are kind of rebuilding their situation. Almost similar to New Orleans -- not in that same respect, but trying to get back above .500. For me, it is a question of, 'At this point in my career, where would you be most satisfied and happy with?' I think I deserve that, and I took a hit, but I felt it was something I needed to do."

And no, Jackson added, he wasn't hesitant because Alonzo Mourning -- one of his best friends -- was in his ear for six days last week, when the two worked out in Miami.

"Not at all," he said. "Remember, I played in New Jersey. When I played there with Coach (John) Calipari, I had one of my best times there even though the team was struggling. That is Alonzo's opinion about what happened to him in New Jersey.

"It is not like I am saying I don't want to go to New Orleans, but I will go to another team that is struggling. The (goal) was to get to a team that was winning."

Jimmy Jackson may not be a fan of the New Orleans Hornets, but he appears to be loving his new home out in Arizona.

Jackson refused to report to the Hornets after being traded from Houston on December 26 because he wanted to play for a contender, and even though he forfeited $302,000 for the games he missed he believes he now resides on fits into that category.

"They have as good a chance as anybody," Jackson said before suiting up for the Suns' game against the New Jersey Nets on Sunday night. "The key is going to be consistency the second part of the season. A lot of teams start out great, but you want to be playing your best basketball in March and April."

Jackson said the forfeited money was worth it if he plays for a top-tier team.

"It's like anything you do in life. You make an investment and you take a chance and hope that it will pay off in the long term," he said. "I was thinking long-term as far as the rest of my career, being in the twilight of my career, being a part of something special."

Phoenix will be Jackson's 12th team in 13 NBA seasons.

The Phoenix Suns acquired veteran swingman Jim Jackson and a 2005 second-round draft pick today from the New Orleans Hornets in exchange for guard Casey Jacobsen, forward/center Maciej Lampe and rookie forward Jackson Vroman.

?Jim Jackson adds significant depth to our roster and should significantly increase our bench productivity. He is a savvy vet whose game fits our system well,? said Suns President and General Manager Bryan Colangelo.

Jackson, who is currently in his 13th NBA season, owns career averages of 15.2 points, 4.9 rebounds and 3.4 assists in 805 games (646 starts) with 11 teams (Dallas, New Jersey, Philadelphia, Golden State, Portland, Atlanta, Cleveland, Miami, Sacramento, Houston and New Orleans).

An accomplished scorer and three-point threat, Jackson ranks 20th among active players with 12,217 points and 25th with 795  three-point field goals. He has a career three-point field goal percentage of .363 and he connected on a career-high 162 treys last season (6th in the NBA) with the Rockets.

The 6-6, 220-pound guard/forward was traded from the Rockets to the Hornets on December 27, 2004 along with forward Bostjan Nachbar for guard David Wesley, but Jackson did not report and was suspended indefinitely by New Orleans on Dec. 29, 2004.  Jackson averaged 13.3 points, 4.8 rebounds and 41.3 minutes (4th in the NBA) in 24 games with Houston this season.

The fourth overall selection in the 1992 NBA Draft by the Mavericks, Jackson immediately becomes the elder statesman on the club at the age of 34. Jackson, who was the Big 10 Player of the Year at Ohio State during his sophomore and junior seasons, has averaged 10.1 points and 4.3 rebounds in 30 career playoff games, including 14.8 points and 10.4 rebounds in five postseason games with Houston in the 2004 Playoffs.

The 2005 second-round draft pick acquired from the Hornets is originally from Dallas. Jackson, who will wear jersey no. 21, will not be in uniform for tonight?s game vs. San Antonio.

Jacobsen, who was selected by the Suns with the 22nd overall pick in the first round of the 2002 NBA draft, averaged 5.5 points, 1.8 rebounds and 19.7 minutes in 190 games in two-plus seasons with Phoenix. In 2004-05, the 6-6, 215-pound guard averaged 5.3 points, 1.7 rebounds and 19.2 assists in 40 games.

Lampe, who was acquired by the Suns in an eight-player trade from the Knicks on Jan. 5, 2004, averaged 3.8 points, 2.1 rebounds and 9.3 minutes in 37 games over two seasons with Phoenix. The 6-11, 275-pound second-year forward/center averaged 2.8 points, 2.0 rebounds and 7.4 minutes in 16 games this season.

Vroman averaged 1.6 points and 1.3 rebounds in 10 games (one start) this season after he was acquired from the Bulls in a draft day deal on June 24, 2004. Vroman, a 6-10, 220-pound forward, was selected by Chicago with the 31st pick overall in the second round of the 2004 NBA Draft.

It appears the high octane offense of the Phoenix Suns may be on the verge of becoming even more lethal.

According to ESPN writer Marc Stein the Suns are closing in on a deal to acquire disgruntled Hornet Jimmy Jackson, who still has not reported to New Orleans following his trade from Houston for guard David Wesley.

The trade is expected to be finalized late Friday, with the Hornets receiving reserves Casey Jacobsen, Maciej Lampe and Jackson Vroman.

The deal helps Phoenix cover for Joe Johnson should the Suns be able to convince the Philadelphia Sixers to swap center Samuel Dalembert for the starting forward.  In the meantime Jackson should provide the Suns with a bona fide scorer off the bench, something the team has been lacking.

New Orleans, meanwhile, jumped at the opportunity to acquire three young players for Jackson, who made it clear that he was prepared to forfeit his salary (roughly $27,500 per game) for the rest of the season before he'd ever play a game for the Hornets.

The Ledger is reporting that team owner George Shinn has killed and buried any rumors about other cities luring the Hornets away from New Orleans.  Shinn said Thursday that the city and the franchise have reached a deal which will see New Orleans release $6.5 million in city money for the New Orleans Hornets' proposed new training center.

"Our goal all along when we moved here was to stay here," Shinn said Thursday. "I know there has been speculation. ... I just want the community to be more secure that we're here. We love it here."

In exchange for Shinn's pledge to help build a proposed multipurpose facility in eastern New Orleans, the city agreed to release money previously set-aside for the Hornets to build a facility housing both practice gyms and corporate offices.

City leaders also gave Shinn their blessing to build wherever he wants - freeing him from a vow to build in eastern new Orleans. He has his sights set on a lot in the central business district, next to the New Orleans Arena, where the Hornets play home games.

The money for a training center was offered by the city as part of city and state inducements that brought the Hornets here from Charlotte, N.C., in 2002.

New Orleans Hornets Owner George Shinn, Mayor C. Ray Nagin, Councilmember Cynthia Willard-Lewis and Senator Ann Duplessis announced today a new partnership between Eastern New Orleans and the Hornets.

The vision for this partnership is to build a world-class multi-purpose complex in Eastern New Orleans and a state-of-the-art training facility for the Hornets in Downtown New Orleans.

"When the opportunity arose to have the practice facility downtown, it offered too many advantages to the New Orleans downtown area and the team," said Shinn. "We are proud and excited to be in a position to further the economic renaissance of the city, and give back to the people of Eastern New Orleans. All of New Orleans is our home and these projects illustrate how we will be a part of this city for the long term."

The new state-of-the-art practice facility would feature three full-length basketball courts along with the latest in weight and training equipment, including an underwater treadmill and hot and cold whirlpools. Broadcast facilities, office space and meeting rooms will complete the interior, which will house both the basketball and business departments.

"Through a series of successful meetings we crafted an agreement in principal that's a slam dunk for all parties," said Mayor Nagin.

The multi-purpose facility will provide the community of Eastern New Orleans with a first-class venue for activities and events ranging from sporting events to community meetings and social gatherings.

Councilmember Willard-Lewis, Senator Duplessis and the entire New Orleans East Legislative Delegation expressed their  "commitment to our constituents to help Eastern New Orleans reach its full potential and reap the greatest possible return."

The latest NBA rumor has the Cavs possibly acquiring Hornets' big man Jamaal Magloire and/or teammate guard Baron Davis, and are exploring potential three-way deals to get one or both, with the possible 3rd team being Minnesota. The Cavs have a few expiring contracts like center Zydrunas Ilgauskas, and guard Jeff McInnis, totaling approximately $17 million (a significant amount for a rebuilding team like the Hornets).

But, while Ilgauskas might be taller than Magloire, he might not be as reliable on the open floor, and on the offensive end. He's among this season's worst-shooting centers, making 44.8 percent of his shots. Top NBA centers like Shaquille O'Neal, Yao Ming, Tim Duncan and Brad Miller - and even journeymen such as former Cav Chris Mihm and Nazr Mohammed - out-shoot Ilgauskas.

The Hornets have had a very disappointing season, as they have dealt with moving to the difficult Western Conference and a whole series of injuries to key players.

The Miami Heat have announced that as a result of the Philadelphia Eagles? participation in the NFC Championship Game, the NBA has announced that the HEAT?s home game versus the New Orleans Hornets has been changed from Monday, January 24, at 7:30 pm to Sunday, January 23 at 6:00 pm at the AmericanAirlines Arena.

The following contest against the 76ers has also been changed from Sunday, January 23, at 6:00 pm to Monday, January 24, at 7:00 pm at Wachovia Center in Philadelphia.