A frustrating December somewhat deflated the Hornets excellent start & had the club on the edge of dropping out of the best 8 within the West.
they have rapidly regrouped.
returning from an outstanding rally win, New Orleans is trying to pickup a victory for the 7th occasion during 9 matchups Saturday evening when they pay a visit to the Bobcats.
Things were not appearing on track for New Orleans ( 24 - 16 ) at the Toyota Center vs. the Rockets on Friday. The Hornets produced and an energetic run to come back and pick up the game 110 - 105 in OT after coming back from a sixteen point disadvantage within the last minute of the 3rd quarter. David West got twenty-nine points & ex- Bobcats C Emeka Okafor completed having seventeen points & fifteen boards for New Orleans, who have won 3 consecutive, the previous 2 in OT, & 6 of 8.
The Hornets had difficulties a little defensively versus the Rockets prior to hunkering down within the last period, compelling them to miss 13 of 18 4th quarter attempts.
New Orleans, which is 2nd within the NBA in scoring defense at 92.5 PPG, & when keeping competitors to 93 points or less they are 19 - 1. During their 1st matchup with the Bobcats, they also delivered a similar late excellent defending effort.
In New Orleans on December 1st, the Hornets went on an 18 - 4 rally during the final period to turn what had been a close game with sixteen lead changes into an 89 - 73 win. West completed having twenty-two points & Paul had 9 points & 14 dishes for New Orleans, which is attempting to sweep the year series from Charlotte for the 1st occasion since 2007 - 2008.
The Hornets are additionally attempting to pick up 4 consecutive contests for the 1st occasion since beginning the year 8 - 0. New Orleans picked up 11 of their 1st twelve matchups, however that was followed by a 7 - 13 stretch that dropped them only 1.5 games in front of 8th place Portland. The Hornets are now in 6th place, 4 matchups ahead of the West's last playoff position.
The Bobcats ( 15 - 22 ) are % points behind the 76ers for 8th place within the East.
Charlotte are returning from a 99 - 94 defeat at the TD Banknorth Garden vs. the Celtics on Friday that broke a year best 4 game winning run. The Bobcats had been losing by 2 with only over 8 minutes left, however Boston put in 11 of the next thirteen points & Charlotte could not come back.
Gerald Wallace, playing in his 2nd consecutive game Friday following being out 9 of the last eleven due to a left ankle injury, directed Charlotte with twenty points, while D.J. Augustin put in nineteen, during his previous 9 matchups he is putting in 19.8 points, 5.4 better than his year average.
The Bobcats are trying to rebound back in Charlotte, where they have picked up 3 consecutive & 9 of 13.
The Hornets have been hard on their competitors' home floors, however, having picked up 4 of 5 away from home following dropping 9 of their last 10 away from New Orleans.