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Warriors hope to improve playoff position vs. Hornets

Apr 6, 2008 - 12:57 PM Golden State (46-30) at New Orleans (53-22) 1:00 pm EDT

NEW ORLEANS (Ticker) -- To move closer to a playoff spot, Baron Davis and the Golden State Warriors will have to go through the best in the West.

Davis and the Warriors aim for their second straight victory when they face the red-hot New Orleans Hornets on Sunday.

Golden State routed the Memphis Grizzlies, 117-86, on Friday to snap a two-game losing streak. Andris Biedrins had 21 points and 17 rebounds and Davis handed out nine assists despite scoring just nine points.

The Warriors now are tied with the Denver Nuggets (46-30) - who lost to the Sacramento Kings on Saturday - for the eighth and final spot in the Western Conference playoff race. Both clubs are one game behind the Dallas Mavericks (47-29) for the No. 7 spot.

However, the Warriors have a tall order on Sunday when they face New Orleans, which clinched its first playoff spot in four seasons on Friday. The Hornets, who dispatched the lowly New York Knicks two nights ago, currently lead the West by 1 1/2 games over the San Antonio Spurs and Los Angeles Lakers.

New Orleans, which has won 10 straight at home, received 33 points and 15 assists from MVP candidate Chris Paul, who has averaged 24.1 points and 13.4 assists in his last 17 games.

The Hornets, who are 14-3 in that span, have split their two games with the Warriors this season, with each team winning on the other's homecourt.

Golden State has won three straight here.