# 2002–03 New Orleans Hornets season

    To see the previous year of the New Orleans Hornets team inherited from the original Charlotte Hornets see the 2001–02 Charlotte Hornets season here. NBA professional basketball team season
The 2002–03 NBA season marked the return of the National Basketball Association to New Orleans. Decades after the Jazz relocated to Salt Lake City, the NBA returned to New Orleans as the New Orleans Hornets were established from the Shinn organization that once made up the Charlotte Hornets. Originally reckoned as the 15th season of the franchise, the second incarnation of the Charlotte Hornets' reclaiming the heritage of the original Hornets has since retroactively deemed this season as the inaugural season for the franchise that would eventually become the Pelicans.
During the off-season, the Hornets acquired Courtney Alexander from the Washington Wizards. The Hornets won 10 of their first 13 games, but struggled a bit down the stretch, holding a 26–24 record at the All-Star break. At midseason, the team traded center Elden Campbell to the Seattle SuperSonics in exchange for point guard Kenny Anderson, who had previously played for the Hornets back in Charlotte during the second half of the 1995–96 season. The Hornets won their final five games finishing third in the Central Division with a decent 47–35 record, and qualified for the playoffs as the #5 seed in the Eastern Conference.
Jamal Mashburn played all 82 games for the first time in his career, averaging 21.6 points, 6.1 rebounds and 5.6 assists per game. He was also voted to play in the 2003 NBA All-Star Game in Atlanta, his only All-Star appearance of his career, as he finished with 10 points as a reserve for the Eastern Conference. In addition, Baron Davis averaged 17.1 points, 6.4 assists and 1.8 steals per game, but only played just 50 games due to a left knee injury, while David Wesley provided the team with 16.7 points and 1.5 steals per game, and P.J. Brown contributed 10.7 points and 9.0 rebounds per game. Jamaal Magloire became the team's starting center, as he provided with 10.3 points, 8.8 rebounds and 1.4 blocks per game, and Alexander contributed 7.9 points per game off the bench.
A six-game defeat to Allen Iverson and the Philadelphia 76ers in the Eastern Conference First Round knocked New Orleans out of the playoffs. Following the season, head coach Paul Silas was fired, and Anderson signed as a free agent with the Indiana Pacers.
For the season, the team replaced the city name "Charlotte" with "New Orleans" on their primary logo of a hornet bouncing a basketball, and got new uniforms, adding yellow to their color scheme of teal. The uniforms remained in use until 2008.

## Draft picks

The Hornets had no draft picks in 2002.

## Regular season
### Standings

| Central Divisionvte | W | L | PCT | GB | Home | Road | Div |
| y-Detroit Pistons | 50 | 32 | .610 | – | 30–11 | 20–21 | 19–9 |
| x-Indiana Pacers | 48 | 34 | .585 | 2 | 32–9 | 16–25 | 19–9 |
| x-New Orleans Hornets | 47 | 35 | .573 | 3 | 29–12 | 18–23 | 17–11 |
| x-Milwaukee Bucks | 42 | 40 | .512 | 8 | 25–16 | 17–24 | 16–12 |
| Atlanta Hawks | 35 | 47 | .427 | 15 | 26–15 | 9–32 | 14–14 |
| Chicago Bulls | 30 | 52 | .366 | 20 | 27–14 | 3–38 | 12–16 |
| Toronto Raptors | 24 | 58 | .293 | 26 | 15–26 | 9–32 | 10–18 |
| Cleveland Cavaliers | 17 | 65 | .207 | 33 | 14–27 | 3–38 | 5–23 |
| # | Eastern Conferencevte | Eastern Conferencevte | Eastern Conferencevte | Eastern Conferencevte | Eastern Conferencevte |
| # | Team | W | L | PCT | GB |
| 1 | c-Detroit Pistons | 50 | 32 | .610 | – |
| 2 | y-New Jersey Nets | 49 | 33 | .598 | 1 |
| 3 | x-Indiana Pacers | 48 | 34 | .585 | 2 |
| 4 | x-Philadelphia 76ers | 48 | 34 | .585 | 2 |
| 5 | x-New Orleans Hornets | 47 | 35 | .573 | 3 |
| 6 | x-Boston Celtics | 44 | 38 | .537 | 6 |
| 7 | x-Milwaukee Bucks | 42 | 40 | .512 | 8 |
| 8 | x-Orlando Magic | 42 | 40 | .512 | 8 |
| 9 | New York Knicks | 37 | 45 | .451 | 13 |
| 10 | Washington Wizards | 37 | 45 | .451 | 13 |
| 11 | Atlanta Hawks | 35 | 47 | .427 | 15 |
| 12 | Chicago Bulls | 30 | 52 | .366 | 20 |
| 13 | Miami Heat | 25 | 57 | .305 | 25 |
| 14 | Toronto Raptors | 24 | 58 | .293 | 26 |
| 15 | Cleveland Cavaliers | 17 | 65 | .207 | 33 |

### Record vs. opponents

2002-03 NBA Records :
| Team | ATL | BOS | CHI | CLE | DAL | DEN | DET | GSW | HOU | IND | LAC | LAL | MEM | MIA | MIL | MIN | NJN | NOH | NYK | ORL | PHI | PHO | POR | SAC | SAS | SEA | TOR | UTA | WAS |
| Atlanta | — | 0–3 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–1 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 2–2 |
| Boston | 3–0 | — | 2–2 | 4–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 1–2 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 3–2 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 1–3 |
| Chicago | 2–2 | 2–2 | — | 3–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–1 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–3 |
| Cleveland | 0–4 | 0–4 | 1–3 | — | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–2 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–2 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 0–4 |
| Dallas | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | — | 4–0 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 1–3 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 2–0 |
| Denver | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–4 | — | 0–2 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 1–1 |
| Detroit | 3–1 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 4–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | — | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 3–1 |
| Golden State | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 4–0 | 1–1 | — | 1–3 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 2–0 |
| Houston | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 4–0 | 0–2 | 3–1 | — | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 1–1 |
| Indiana | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | — | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 1–2 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 |
| L.A. Clippers | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 0–2 | — | 0–4 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 0–2 |
| L.A. Lakers | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 4–0 | — | 4–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 1–1 |
| Memphis | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 0–4 | — | 2–0 | 2–0 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 1–1 |
| Miami | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | — | 1–3 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 4–0 | 0–2 | 1–3 |
| Milwaukee | 2–2 | 2–1 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 3–1 | — | 0–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 2–1 |
| Minnesota | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | — | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 2–0 |
| New Jersey | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 2–0 | — | 2–2 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 0–2 | 3–1 |
| New Orleans | 2–2 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 2–2 | — | 3–1 | 1–3 | 2–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 2–1 |
| New York | 3–1 | 0–4 | 1–2 | 2–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | — | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 |
| Orlando | 1–2 | 2–3 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 2–2 | — | 2–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 2–2 |
| Philadelphia | 1–3 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 1–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | — | 0–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–0 | 1–1 | 4–0 |
| Phoenix | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | — | 3–1 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 1–1 |
| Portland | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–3 | — | 1–3 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 1–1 |
| Sacramento | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 3–1 | — | 1–3 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–0 |
| San Antonio | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 3–1 | — | 3–1 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 1–1 |
| Seattle | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 1–3 | — | 2–0 | 2–2 | 1–1 |
| Toronto | 3–1 | 2–1 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 0–3 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | — | 0–2 | 3–1 |
| Utah | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 2–0 | — | 1–1 |
| Washington | 2–2 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 1–2 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 1–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 1–1 | — |

### Game log

| Game | Date | Opponent | Result | Hornets score | Opponent score | Record | OT |
| 1 | October 30 | Utah | Win | 100 | 75 | 1-0 | |
| 2 | November 1 | @ Chicago | Loss | 79 | 84 | 1-1 | |
| 3 | November 2 | Miami | Win | 100 | 95 | 2-1 | |
| 4 | November 6 | Seattle | Win | 86 | 84 | 3-1 | |
| 5 | November 8 | Golden State | Win | 110 | 104 | 4-1 | |
| 6 | November 10 | @ New York | Win | 97 | 91 | 5-1 | OT |
| 7 | November 12 | @ Detroit | Loss | 87 | 93 | 5-2 | |
| 8 | November 13 | Minnesota | Win | 102 | 98 | 6-2 | |
| 9 | November 15 | Chicago | Win | 105 | 87 | 7-2 | |
| 10 | November 16 | @ Atlanta | Loss | 82 | 89 | 7-3 | |
| 11 | November 19 | Philadelphia | Win | 99 | 98 | 8-3 | |
| 12 | November 22 | New York | Win | 105 | 97 | 9-3 | OT |
| 13 | November 23 | @ Cleveland | Win | 97 | 84 | 10-3 | |
| 14 | November 25 | @ Philadelphia | Loss | 87 | 108 | 10-4 | |
| 15 | November 27 | Atlanta | Win | 106 | 94 | 11-4 | |
| 16 | November 30 | @ New York | Loss | 86 | 92 | 11-5 | OT |
| 17 | December 1 | @ Boston | Loss | 86 | 95 | 11-6 | |
| 18 | December 3 | @ Chicago | Win | 115 | 90 | 12-6 | |
| 19 | December 4 | Toronto | Win | 89 | 74 | 13-6 | |
| 20 | December 6 | Houston | Win | 98 | 96 | 14-6 | OT |
| 21 | December 7 | @ Milwaukee | Win | 94 | 88 | 15-6 | |
| 22 | December 9 | LA Clippers | Loss | 90 | 94 | 15-7 | |
| 23 | December 12 | @ Utah | Win | 93 | 88 | 16-7 | |
| 24 | December 13 | @ LA Lakers | Win | 98 | 82 | 17-7 | |
| 25 | December 15 | @ Sacramento | Loss | 92 | 107 | 17-8 | |
| 26 | December 17 | @ Portland | Loss | 93 | 102 | 17-9 | |
| 27 | December 18 | @ Golden State | Loss | 106 | 111 | 17-10 | |
| 28 | December 20 | @ Seattle | Win | 88 | 86 | 18-10 | OT |
| 29 | December 23 | @ San Antonio | Loss | 94 | 99 | 18-11 | OT |
| 30 | December 26 | Dallas | Loss | 81 | 83 | 18-12 | |
| 31 | December 28 | @ Indiana | Loss | 84 | 91 | 18-13 | |
| 32 | December 29 | @ Houston | Loss | 85 | 97 | 18-14 | |
| 33 | December 31 | Indiana | Loss | 86 | 89 | 18-15 | |
| 34 | January 3 | Orlando | Win | 100 | 89 | 19-15 | |
| 35 | January 5 | @ Toronto | Win | 99 | 84 | 20-15 | |
| 36 | January 6 | @ Memphis | Loss | 102 | 106 | 20-16 | |
| 37 | January 8 | Boston | Loss | 83 | 93 | 20-17 | |
| 38 | January 10 | Detroit | Loss | 99 | 101 | 20-18 | OT |
| 39 | January 11 | @ Atlanta | Loss | 80 | 87 | 20-19 | |
| 40 | January 15 | LA Lakers | Loss | 82 | 90 | 20-20 | |
| 41 | January 17 | Chicago | Win | 90 | 83 | 21-20 | |
| 42 | January 20 | Phoenix | Win | 114 | 103 | 22-20 | |
| 43 | January 22 | Washington | Win | 103 | 94 | 23-20 | |
| 44 | January 24 | Portland | Loss | 96 | 97 | 23-21 | OT |
| 45 | January 27 | Milwaukee | Loss | 93 | 108 | 23-22 | |
| 46 | January 29 | Toronto | Win | 104 | 83 | 24-22 | |
| 47 | January 31 | @ New Jersey | Loss | 72 | 89 | 24-23 | |
| 48 | February 1 | @ Washington | Loss | 104 | 109 | 24-24 | |
| 49 | February 3 | Boston | Win | 103 | 96 | 25-24 | |
| 50 | February 5 | Sacramento | Win | 108 | 84 | 26-24 | |
| 51 | February 11 | @ Miami | Win | 78 | 69 | 27-24 | |
| 52 | February 12 | Indiana | Loss | 72 | 83 | 27-25 | |
| 53 | February 14 | @ Minnesota | Loss | 93 | 114 | 27-26 | |
| 54 | February 16 | Denver | Win | 100 | 92 | 28-26 | |
| 55 | February 18 | @ Orlando | Loss | 94 | 99 | 28-27 | |
| 56 | February 19 | Washington | Win | 87 | 75 | 29-27 | |
| 57 | February 21 | Memphis | Win | 125 | 123 | 30-27 | OT |
| 58 | February 22 | @ Detroit | Win | 93 | 91 | 31-27 | |
| 59 | February 26 | Miami | Win | 91 | 82 | 32-27 | |
| 60 | February 28 | @ Denver | Win | 94 | 88 | 33-27 | |
| 61 | March 1 | @ Phoenix | Win | 97 | 92 | 34-27 | |
| 62 | March 3 | @ LA Clippers | Win | 111 | 108 | 35-27 | |
| 63 | March 7 | Cleveland | Win | 102 | 76 | 36-27 | |
| 64 | March 9 | New Jersey | Loss | 92 | 102 | 36-28 | |
| 65 | March 11 | @ Indiana | Win | 81 | 71 | 37-28 | |
| 66 | March 12 | @ Boston | Loss | 65 | 93 | 37-29 | |
| 67 | March 14 | @ Miami | Win | 87 | 83 | 38-29 | |
| 68 | March 15 | @ Orlando | Loss | 86 | 96 | 38-30 | |
| 69 | March 19 | New York | Win | 101 | 96 | 39-30 | |
| 70 | March 21 | Milwaukee | Win | 113 | 98 | 40-30 | |
| 71 | March 22 | @ Milwaukee | Loss | 85 | 93 | 40-31 | |
| 72 | March 26 | Orlando | Loss | 95 | 97 | 40-32 | |
| 73 | March 28 | @ Toronto | Win | 101 | 92 | 41-32 | |
| 74 | March 30 | San Antonio | Loss | 90 | 92 | 41-33 | |
| 75 | April 1 | @ Dallas | Loss | 86 | 95 | 41-34 | |
| 76 | April 2 | New Jersey | Win | 106 | 97 | 42-34 | |
| 77 | April 5 | @ Cleveland | Loss | 76 | 79 | 42-35 | |
| 78 | April 9 | Cleveland | Win | 100 | 81 | 43-35 | |
| 79 | April 11 | Detroit | Win | 93 | 89 | 44-35 | |
| 80 | April 13 | @ Philadelphia | Win | 94 | 89 | 45-35 | |
| 81 | April 14 | @ New Jersey | Win | 87 | 74 | 46-35 | |
| 82 | April 16 | Atlanta | Win | 92 | 77 | 47-35 | |
| 1 | April 20 | @ Philadelphia | Loss | 90 | 98 | 0-1 | |
| 2 | April 23 | @ Philadelphia | Loss | 85 | 90 | 0-2 | |
| 3 | April 26 | Philadelphia | Win | 99 | 85 | 1-2 | |
| 4 | April 28 | Philadelphia | Loss | 87 | 96 | 1-3 | |
| 5 | April 30 | @ Philadelphia | Win | 93 | 91 | 2-3 | |
| 6 | May 2 | Philadelphia | Loss | 103 | 107 | 2-4 | |

## Playoffs

At the start of the playoffs, Baron Davis would struggle with back pain. Jamal Mashburn would suffer a dislocated finger in Game 2 of the first round series against the Philadelphia 76ers. The Hornets would force a 6th game, but Davis and Mashburn played hurt. The 76ers would eliminate the Hornets in the sixth game. After the season, the Hornets would stun their fans and most experts by firing Coach Paul Silas.
2003 playoff game log :
First Round: 2–4 (home: 1–2; road: 1–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceSeries
1
April 20
@ Philadelphia
L 90–98
Jamal Mashburn (28)
P. J. Brown (8)
Baron Davis (6)
First Union Center 19,711
0–1
2
April 23
@ Philadelphia
L 85–90
David Wesley (24)
Jamaal Magloire (8)
Jamal Mashburn (6)
First Union Center 20,229
0–2
3
April 26
Philadelphia
W 99–85
Baron Davis (28)
P. J. Brown (12)
Baron Davis (8)
New Orleans Arena 17,320
1–2
4
April 28
Philadelphia
L 87–96
Baron Davis (34)
P. J. Brown (9)
Baron Davis (7)
New Orleans Arena 16,243
1–3
5
April 30
@ Philadelphia
W 93–91
Jamal Mashburn (21)
Jamaal Magloire (12)
Baron Davis (10)
First Union Center 19,403
2–3
6
May 2
Philadelphia
L 103–107
Jamal Mashburn (36)
three players tied (8)
Baron Davis (11)
New Orleans Arena 18,570
2–4 :
2003 schedule :

## Player statistics
### Season

| Player | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3FG% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
| Courtney Alexander | 66 | 7 | 20.6 | .382 | .333 | .808 | 1.8 | 1.2 | .5 | .1 | 7.9 |
| Kenny Anderson | 23 | 1 | 19.4 | .407 | .500 | .727 | 2.0 | 3.3 | .8 | .2 | 6.0 |
| Stacey Augmon | 70 | 3 | 12.3 | .411 | .000 | .750 | 1.7 | 1.0 | .4 | .1 | 3.0 |
| P.J. Brown | 78 | 78 | 33.4 | .531 | .000 | .836 | 9.0 | 1.9 | .9 | 1.0 | 10.7 |
| Elden Campbell | 41 | 1 | 16.7 | .409 | .000 | .809 | 3.5 | 1.0 | .6 | .8 | 7.2 |
| Baron Davis | 50 | 47 | 37.8 | .416 | .350 | .710 | 3.7 | 6.4 | 1.8 | .4 | 17.1 |
| Bryce Drew | 13 | 0 | 6.1 | .296 | .429 | . | 1.0 | .8 | .2 | .0 | 1.5 |
| Kirk Haston | 12 | 0 | 4.8 | .118 | .000 | .500 | .6 | .3 | .0 | .4 | .5 |
| Randy Livingston | 2 | 0 | 6.0 | .500 | . | 1.000 | .0 | .5 | .0 | .0 | 3.0 |
| George Lynch | 81 | 32 | 18.5 | .409 | .354 | .554 | 4.4 | 1.3 | .8 | .2 | 4.5 |
| Jamaal Magloire | 82 | 82 | 29.8 | .480 | .000 | .717 | 8.8 | 1.1 | .6 | 1.4 | 10.3 |
| Jamal Mashburn | 82 | 81 | 40.5 | .422 | .389 | .848 | 6.1 | 5.6 | 1.0 | .2 | 21.6 |
| Jérôme Moïso | 51 | 1 | 12.6 | .520 | . | .659 | 3.5 | .4 | .4 | .9 | 4.0 |
| Robert Pack | 28 | 4 | 15.7 | .403 | .000 | .745 | 1.8 | 2.9 | .9 | .0 | 5.2 |
| Robert Traylor | 69 | 0 | 12.3 | .443 | .333 | .648 | 3.8 | .7 | .7 | .5 | 3.9 |
| David Wesley | 73 | 73 | 37.1 | .433 | .424 | .781 | 2.4 | 3.4 | 1.5 | .1 | 16.7 |

### Playoffs

| Player | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3FG% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
| Courtney Alexander | 5 | 0 | 7.8 | .438 | 1.000 | .750 | .8 | .2 | .4 | .0 | 3.6 |
| Kenny Anderson | 5 | 0 | 10.2 | .333 | . | 1.000 | .4 | 1.8 | .6 | .0 | 2.2 |
| Stacey Augmon | 4 | 0 | 17.3 | .333 | . | .875 | 2.5 | .8 | .8 | .0 | 4.3 |
| P.J. Brown | 6 | 6 | 32.2 | .477 | . | .760 | 7.7 | 1.0 | 1.2 | .5 | 10.2 |
| Baron Davis | 5 | 5 | 38.8 | .446 | .343 | .727 | 3.6 | 8.4 | 1.4 | .4 | 20.4 |
| George Lynch | 6 | 3 | 27.2 | .429 | .278 | .250 | 6.2 | 1.7 | 1.0 | .8 | 7.0 |
| Jamaal Magloire | 6 | 6 | 31.3 | .449 | . | .758 | 8.3 | .3 | .7 | 1.0 | 11.5 |
| Jamal Mashburn | 4 | 4 | 40.5 | .430 | .400 | .714 | 3.5 | 5.3 | 1.0 | .3 | 24.8 |
| Jérôme Moïso | 4 | 0 | 15.0 | .625 | . | .750 | 4.0 | 1.3 | .0 | 1.8 | 5.8 |
| Robert Pack | 4 | 0 | 10.5 | .462 | . | 1.000 | .3 | 1.0 | .0 | .0 | 3.8 |
| Robert Traylor | 6 | 0 | 15.7 | .455 | . | .250 | 5.0 | .7 | .5 | .8 | 3.5 |
| David Wesley | 6 | 6 | 30.8 | .403 | .412 | 1.000 | 1.2 | 2.2 | .8 | .2 | 13.2 |

## Awards and records
### Awards

* Jamal Mashburn, All-NBA Third Team