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Nets try to stay hot on the road vs. Bobcats

Dec 27, 2008 - 11:31 AM New Jersey (14-15) at Charlotte (11-19), 7:00pm EST

CHARLOTTE, North Carolina (Ticker) -- As the New Jersey Nets get set to hit the road for the back end of a home-and-home series with the Charlotte Bobcats, the odds are strangely skewed in their favor.

After dropping the opener at the IZOD Center on Friday, the Nets return to where they have been most comfortable this season - the road - as they visit the Bobcats in a rematch on Saturday.

In the opener of the set, Emeka Okafor had 21 points and nine rebounds and Boris Diaw added 16 points, including a key layup with three minutes left, as the Bobcats held on for a 95-87 victory.

The win dropped the Nets to 5-11 at home - but they should welcome the chance to get away, where they are an impressive 9-4. That's not the only trend that has followed them this season - Friday's loss featured a pair of subpar performances from New Jersey's backcourt stars, Devin Harris and Vince Carter. The two paired combined to hit 12-of-36 from the field.

In that sense, the loss wasn't unusual. When Harris, or Carter, or both struggle, the rest of the team tends to follow suit.

The Bobcats' victory was their fourth in five games after struggling through most of the campaign. Previously, they had dropped seven in a row.