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Hornets look to bounce back against Bulls

Mar 17, 2008 - 1:22 PM Chicago (26-39) at New Orleans (44-21) 8:00 pm EDT

NEW ORLEANS (Ticker) - Currently sitting just outside the top eight places in the Eastern Conference, every game is a bit more critical for the Chicago Bulls.

The Bulls face the New Orleans Hornets on Monday locked in a battle with New Jersey and Atlanta for the last playoff berth in the East.

Chicago, 11-23 on the road and 9-19 against Western Conference teams, is coming off a 110-106 home loss to Philadelphia. It was the Bulls' third defeat in their last four games. Chicago was outscored, 40-20, in the fourth quarter.

"It's like we got caught in quicksand in the fourth quarter," said Bulls' forward Drew Gooden. "Defensively they switched to a zone and they were effective."

New Orleans had won five of six games prior to Sunday's 105-84 blowout loss at Detroit that dropped the Hornets' record to 14-7 against the East.

New Orleans was without the services of All-Star forward David West, who sprained his right ankle on Friday against the Los Angeles Lakers.

The Hornets have won six straight at home and are 24-10 on the season. In the previous meeting this season, New Orleans rolled to a 100-86 victory at Chicago on February 12.

Monday's game kicks off a three-game homestand for the Hornets.