• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Hornets seek season sweep of Pistons

Jan 4, 2007 - 2:54 PM Detroit (18-11) at New Orleans (12-19) 8:00 pm EST

OKLAHOMA CITY (Ticker) -- The injury-riddled New Orleans Hornets will try to accomplish something they haven't done since they were in the Queen City.

The Hornets on Thursday look to complete a season sweep of the Detroit Pistons, who kick off a four-game road trip.

Detroit has not been swept in the season series between the two clubs since 1994-95, when the Hornets franchise was located in Charlotte.

Reigning Rookie of the Year Chris Paul led the charge in the first matchup with the Pistons on November 15, collecting 20 points and 13 assists in a 100-99 triumph.

But the Hornets will have to beat the Pistons again without Paul, who is sidelined with a severe ankle sprain. Paul joins injured Hornets Peja Stojakovic (back) and David West (elbow), who both have missed more than a month.

Rasual Butler scored 30 points for the Hornets in Tuesday's 97-89 setback to the Golden State Warriors. He is averaging 19.5 points over his last four games.

Richard Hamilton scored 31 points and Flip Murray chipped in 18 as the Pistons dropped their third straight game, a 108-101 loss to the Phoenix Suns on Sunday.

Hamilton is averaging close to 35 points per game over his past three outings. However, he has scored just 17.5 points in 22 career games vs. the Hornets.