Hornets at Trail Blazers
THE STORY: The Portland Trail Blazers will attempt to end a
three-game losing streak when they host the New Orleans Hornets.
Portland has lost back-to-back home games to the Miami Heat and
Minnesota Timberwolves during the skid and has fallen below .500 for the
first time this season. The Trail Blazers are 13-7 at home. New Orleans
is opening a four-game road trip and is 5-12 on the road. The Hornets
lost at home to the Indiana Pacers on Saturday.
TV: 10 p.m. ET, Cox Sports (Hornets), CS Northwest (Trail Blazers)
ABOUT THE HORNETS (9-28): New Orleans hopes to get forward Trevor
Ariza back after he missed the last two games with flu-like symptoms.
The Hornets have also been without center Emeka Okafor (knee) and
forwards Carl Landry (knee) and Jason Smith (concussion) and dressed
only nine players in each of the last two contests. Of course, New
Orleans has been without guard Eric Gordon for two months as well. Coach
Monty Williams keeps juggling lineups while shorthanded in hopes of
finding combinations that will work together.
ABOUT THE TRAIL BLAZERS (18-19):
Portland was manhandled by Timberwolves star Kevin Love (42 points) in
Saturday’s disappointing loss and hasn’t won since before the All-Star
break. Making matters worse is a seven-game road trip follows the
contest against the Hornets and Portland is 5-12 away from home. The
upcoming stretch could decide whether the Trail Blazers are going to be
in position to land one of the Western Conference’s eight playoff spots.
Portland is 10th, with the Utah Jazz and Phoenix Suns in close pursuit.
BUZZER BEATERS:
1.
Portland twice defeated New Orleans at home this season. Jamal Crawford
scored a season-best 31 points in the more recent contest Feb. 10.
2. Trail Blazers forward Gerald Wallace had 25 points, 14 rebounds and five steals against Minnesota.
3. New Orleans is 6-19 in games decided by 10 or fewer points.