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Hornets pay a visit to Nets

Mar 17, 2012 - 3:19 PM (Sports Network) - The New Orleans Hornets lost all three games on a recent homestand and will search for success tonight on the road against the New Jersey Nets at the Prudential Center.

The Hornets have dropped nine of their last 11 games, including Thursday's 99-89 setback versus the Washington Wizards. Chris Kaman led the Hornets with 20 points, while Gustavo Ayon chipped in 16 points and nine rebounds.

Trevor Ariza added 13 points in New Orleans' fourth straight loss in the Big Easy.

"We used up so much energy to get back into the game and then they hit a couple of threes and it sucked the life out of us," said Hornets head coach Monty Williams. "After that you feel like you have to hit a home run to get back into it and you stop doing what you're supposed to do."

New Orleans is 6-15 away from home this season and last in the Southwest.

The Nets have lost three of four games and could receive a boost with the debut of Gerald Wallace tonight in the opener of a three-game homestand.

New Jersey, which is slated to play six of the next seven games at home, acquired Wallace from Portland for center Mehmet Okur, forward Shawne Williams and a protected first-round pick. Wallace averaged 13.3 points and 6.6 rebounds with the Trail Blazers and did not play in last night's 86-70 loss at Orlando. Nets point guard Deron Williams missed his fourth straight game because of a calf injury and his backup, guard Jordan Farmar, missed the game due to a groin issue. Both are doubtful for Saturday.

The Nets were led by Gerald Green's 14 points, while DeShawn Stevenson had 11 and Jordan Williams posted 10 points for New Jersey, which fell to 11-22 against the Eastern Conference and shot a paltry 33.7 percent. Kris Humphries was a non-factor with four points and three boards, and had scored in double figures over the previous five games.

"We got off to a decent start tonight," said Nets head coach Avery Johnson. "Not a bad first quarter, but [the Magic] came out in the beginning of the third quarter and really threw a knockout punch at us."

New Jersey is just 5-15 in the Garden State this season and will also host Cleveland and Washington on the residency. The team is still dealing with the absence of oft-injured big man Brook Lopez (ankle sprain).

The Nets and Hornets are meeting for the first and only time this season. Both teams split a home-and-home series a year ago, with each club prevailing as the host. The Hornets have won six of eight and seven of the last 10 matchups.