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Hornets try to extend winning streak, host Nuggets

Jan 28, 2008 - 4:56 PM Denver (26-17) at New Orleans (31-12) 8:00 pm EST

NEW ORLEANS (Ticker) - The New Orleans Hornets look to extend their winning streak to nine games when they host the Denver Nuggets on Monday.

New Orleans kept the NBA's longest current winning streak intact Saturday with an impressive 102-78 road triumph over the defending champion San Antonio Spurs. It was the worst home loss in Spurs forward Tim Duncan's 11-year career.

"We feel like ... going into every game we're going to win. We don't feel like we're the underdogs," New Orleans guard Chris Paul said. "It was a really big win for us."

The Hornets outscored San Antonio, 60-35, in the second half to take control of the game.

"We've been building toward this - in terms of closing the gap on these better Western Conference teams. And we've been able to do that," New Orleans forward David West said.

New Orleans is at the top of the Western Conference standings, percentage points ahead of the Phoenix Suns.

Monday's game is the third and last of the season between the teams, who split the previous two in Denver. The game is the second of a three-game road trip for the Nuggets, who are coming off a 90-85 loss in Dallas on Sunday.

Denver had won two straight since losing All-Star starter Carmelo Anthony to a sprained left ankle. Anthony is averaging 25.5 points.