• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Surging Hornets face struggling Bucks

Feb 8, 2007 - 4:17 PM Milwaukee (19-30) at New Orleans (22-27) 8:00 pm EST

OKLAHOMA CITY (Ticker) - The New Orleans Hornets look to continue their climb in the Western Conference on Thursday when they welcome the struggling Milwaukee Bucks.

After battling through injuries and a dismal December in which they went just 4-11, the Hornets are 10-9 since. They are one game behind Denver (23-24) for the final playoff berth in the West.

The Hornets inched closer Wednesday with their sixth win in eight games, a 114-112 overtime victory at Denver. Desmond Mason scored 23 points, including the game-winning basket as time expired.

Milwaukee ended its four-game slide Tuesday with a 116-111 triumph over the Orlando Magic. Ruben Patterson poured in 27 points and Earl Boykins added 23 off the bench.

It was just the third win in 18 games since the start of the new year for the Bucks, who have not won back-to-back games since a six-game winning streak from December 16-27.

Milwaukee still is without leading scorer Michael Redd, who will miss his 17th straight game with a strained left patellar tendon. Redd may return Friday vs. Boston.

The Hornets have won four straight home meetings from the Bucks dating to January 27, 2003. The teams were supposed to meet in Milwaukee on January 13, but the game was postponed when the Hornets could not fly out of Okalhoam City due to an ice storm.