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Pacers-Hornets Preview

Feb 18, 2010 - 8:41 PM By MATT BEARDMORE STATS Writer

Indiana (18-35) at New Orleans (28-26), 8:00 p.m. EDT

In 10th place in the Western Conference, the New Orleans Hornets are trying to make the postseason for the third straight year. Improving their play at home would certainly help their chances.

The Hornets continue their four-game homestand Friday night against an Indiana Pacers team that has lost 19 of 23 on the road.

New Orleans (28-26) fell three games behind Portland for the eighth and final playoff spot in the West with a 98-90 loss to Utah on Wednesday. The Jazz outrebounded the Hornets 42-37 while shooting 54.3 percent from the field.

"They are difficult to defend, but we need to work on our ability to defend and rebound," New Orleans coach Jeff Bower said.

Indiana coach Jim O'Brien can relate. The Pacers (18-35) have been outrebounded by an average of 8.7 while dropping six of eight.

"The story of the game was the glass," O'Brien said after his team was outrebounded by nine in Wednesday's 90-87 loss to San Antonio. "They got 20 points on second-chance opportunities."

Indiana is looking to snap an overall three-game skid and four-game slide to the Hornets, but the Pacers have one of the league's worst road records at 6-20. They play 10 of their next 13 away from Indianapolis.

Facing such a poor road team could benefit the Hornets, who have dropped six of eight at home after winning 13 of 14 at New Orleans Arena.

The loss of Chris Paul hasn't helped. New Orleans has lost five of eight and four of five at home since the three-time All-Star was sidelined with a torn meniscus in his left knee.

With Paul expected to be out at least another three weeks, Bower will continue to lean heavily on Darren Collison. The rookie from UCLA has been solid in Paul's eight-game absence, averaging 19.9 points and 9.5 rebounds.

Collison played his first game against the Pacers on Jan. 16, coming off the bench to score two points. Paul led the Hornets to a 101-96 road victory with 22 points, 11 assists and eight rebounds.

David West, who had 24 points in that matchup, will look to rebound from a season-low five-point effort versus the Jazz. He averaged 10.3 points and 29.4 percent shooting in the Hornets' last three home games.

West was sidelined with a back injury when the Hornets snapped the Pacers' three-game home streak win in the series, 103-100 on Jan. 19, 2009.

Paul hit a winning fadeaway 3-pointer at the buzzer after New Orleans native Danny Granger made a 3 to pull Indiana even with 2.5 seconds left.

Granger, scoring a team-high 22.4 points a contest, averaged 26.0 points and 7.0 rebounds in his last two games at New Orleans Arena.

Hornets forward Peja Stojakovic, who spent half of 2005-06 with Indiana, averaged 21.5 points and hit 52.3 percent from 3-point range in the last six games.