Pelicans 93 - 106 Spurs
Final
  for this game

Spurs, Hornets square off in pivotal Southwest battle

Jan 31, 2009 - 11:18 AM New Orleans (28-15) at San Antonio (31-14) 8:30 p.m. EST

SAN ANTONIO (Ticker) -- Last season, the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference playoff standings was decided by a tiebreaker, as the New Orleans Hornets and San Antonio Spurs finished the season tied atop the Southwest Division with 56 wins apiece.

This time around, the surging Spurs are trying to make things a bit easier on themselves. Having long since overcome a sluggish start, the Spurs will try to put a little distance between themselves and the Hornets on Saturday night as they play host in a crucial division clash.

Last spring, the Spurs had to go into New Orleans in Game Seven to get to the Western Conference finals, finally ousting the Hornets in a grueling second-round series. This year, they have a two-game lead and can extend that to three with a win.

A victory would also provide redemption for San Antonio, which lost its first meeting with New Orleans this season. In a December 17 showdown in the Big Easy, the Spurs held a comfortable lead early in the fourth quarter but were torn apart by the Hornets over the final nine minutes.

Chris Paul posted 19 points and 12 assists to lead New Orleans to the win.

In the team's tune-up for the rematch, however, the Hornets were anything but impressive. Despite a 31-point, eight-assist effort from Paul, the Hornets were upended on their home floor by the lowly Golden State Warriors, 91-87.






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