Four days in between games is a good thing after all.

Hornets forward David West, who left Game 6 before it ended with a back injury, practiced Sunday and will be in the starting lineup for Monday night’s Game 7 at the New Orleans Arena.

Prior to Thursday’s Game 6 in San Antonio, lots of people wondered if the long layoff would benefit the Spurs more than New Orleans. After that 99-80 loss at the AT&T Center, though, the Hornets needed every extra day they could get.

David J. Phillip / Associated Press

David West (30) has his shot blocked by San Antonio Spurs' Tim Duncan (21) as Fabricio Oberto (7), of Argentina, defends during the second quarter in Game 4 of the NBA Western Conference semifinals basketball game.

Especially West, who took a forearm screen to his back from Robert Horry in the fourth quarter and needed help walking from the court to the locker room.

And now, a day before the final game of the series, West is ready to go, having taken part in nearly the entirety of Sunday’s practice.

“Between days and between Games 5 and 6, we got some soreness out of there, but it was still sore and it kind of just reaggravated it a little bit,” West said, “but I’ve had a good couple days rest and should be good to go.”

West is averaging 20 points and nine rebounds in the series, but was held to just 10 points on 4-of-14 shooting in Game 6.

Several times over the past two days, members of the Hornets were asked whether they thought the shot by Horry was cheap. Not once did they take the bait.

“I saw it once, maybe,” Chris Paul said. “As long as D West is alive and well over there, I don’t care too much about it. It’s all about Game 7.”

Said Morris Peterson, “I really couldn’t see it like I wanted to. I hope it wasn’t a dirty play. If it was, that’s something the NBA must take care of. It’s not something we need to worry about.”

Added head coach Byron Scott, “It’s not unusual. I’ve seen it a bunch of times. Under the circumstances and the guy who is setting it…I’ve known Robert for a long time. I played with him. I know he’s not a dirty ball player.”

Nevertheless, the health of West could impact this seventh and final game. He is averaging 26 points in New Orleans’ three wins in the series, including a game-high 30 in the 101-82 win in Game 1 and a career-playoff high of 38 points in the 101-79 Game 5 win.

After the team took a collective day off Friday to rest their legs and minds, West came out and took shots during Saturday’s practice. Sunday, he was out on the floor participating in all but the final 15 or so minutes of practice.

Just having him on the floor was a lift, Peterson said.

“I think confidence-wise, if you come into practice and one of your best players is hurt and you see him out here getting some shots up, that’s a sign of a warrior,” Peterson said. “That’s the sign of somebody who is putting the team in front of himself. That’s the kind of guy he is. It did feel good to see him out there.”