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Hornets and Pistons meet in the Big Easy

Dec 8, 2010 - 3:59 PM (Sports Network) - The struggling New Orleans Hornets will open a short homestand tonight versus the Detroit Pistons in the Big Easy.

New Orleans has dropped two straight and six of its last eight games, including Sunday's 109-84 loss in San Antonio.

Chris Paul notched 16 points and eight assists to lead the Hornets, who will also welcome Oklahoma City to town on the quick residency. Trevor Ariza and David West both had 13 points in the loss to the Spurs.

"Their pressure on us took us out tonight," said Hornets head coach Monty Williams. "When a team plays you that way you have to execute. They made shots but you are going to face teams that make shots. If they are going to shoot that way all night, and we don't then you have to live with that."

The Hornets have gone nine straight games without scoring 100 or more points and are 8-2 on the bayou this season.

Detroit has been struggling this season and will continue a three-game road trip tonight down south. It opened the trek with last night's 97-83 loss in Houston, as Rodney Stuckey led the way with 18 points.

Former Rocket Tracy McGrady, who signed with Detroit in the offseason, finished with 11 points for the Pistons, who were coming off Sunday's win over Cleveland and will close out the trek in Minnesota on Friday.

"They took the game to us," said Pistons center Ben Wallace. "They were able to come away with a good win. I think they forced us to play their style of basketball."

On the injury front for the Pistons, forward Charlie Villanueva (personal) is listed as questionable for this evening's game. Villanueva is averaging 13.2 points and 4.8 rebounds this season and didn't play against the Rockets.

The Pistons and Hornets split a pair of meetings last season, with each team holding serve as the host. Detroit has won eight of the last 12 matchups between the two teams.