Nelson out for season?

All-Star point guard Jameer Nelson said yesterday his "spirits are high" and is optimistic he can play again this season for the Orlando Magic despite a torn labrum in his right shoulder.

Nelson said he's "not in too much pain" and will decide over the next few weeks whether he will have surgery now or hold off and attempt rehabilitation. If surgery is the option, his season is likely over. If he passes on the surgery, he'll likely miss several weeks.

"Everybody's body is different," Nelson said. "My body is obviously different than yours. You may take a year, I may take two weeks. I won't know any timetable right now."

Nelson left the Magic's 105-95 loss to the Mavericks Monday night in the third quarter after he stole the ball from Dallas center Erick Dampier, was fouled, and hit the floor. Nelson came up bent over and clutching his right shoulder before heading to the locker room in pain.

He said yesterday the tear occurred while he was ripping the ball away from Dampier.

"I can't really say why it happened at this time," Nelson said. "Everything happens for a reason, I understand that. I think that's why my spirits are high."

Orlando does not have a third point guard behind backup Anthony Johnson. The Magic likely will have to sign another point guard or convert shooting guards J.J. Redick and Courtney Lee.

Chris Paul laughed and joked with teammates after Hornets practice, the grim silence that followed the All-Star point guard's injury and New Orleans's' ensuing collapse Monday fading into memory.

New Orleans learned while blowing a big lead to Portland Monday night that adjusting to life without Paul may be even harder than imagined.

The good news for the Hornets is they may not have to endure without him for much more than a few games.

An MRI indicated that Paul had only a mild strain of his right groin and he is listed as day to day.

"I feel good," Paul said. "Maybe I can play [tonight], maybe Friday."

Based on the way they fell apart against Portland, the Hornets could be in for a serious struggle if Paul's pain lingers.

New Orleans led by 17 when Paul left. The Trail Blazers rallied for a 97-89 victory.

The Hornets are on a three-game losing streak, their longest of the season, with home games coming up against Chicago tonight, Toronto Friday and Minnesota Sunday before New Orleans travels to Memphis Monday. Paul wants to be back sometime during that stretch, but coach Byron Scott said he may sit for all four games.

The agent for Indiana Pacers guard Jamaal Tinsley expects the Players Association to file a grievance in the next week against the team. Tinsley has not played this season and has not been allowed to practice with the team . . . H-O-R-S-E has galloped into All-Star weekend. The popular shooting contest will be part of TNT's coverage of All-Star Saturday night Feb. 14. Three players, who will be revealed later, will take part . . . Attorneys for former All-Star Jayson Williams implored New Jersey's Supreme Court to allow them access to information about a racial slur uttered by an investigator in the manslaughter case against him. The court is considering arguments about what effect the slur may have had on the probe into the shooting of hired driver Costas Christofi.