• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Hornets eye second straight win with Chandler back in tow

Feb 25, 2009 - 11:29 AM Detroit (27-28) at New Orleans (33-22) 8:00 p.m. EST

NEW ORLEANS (Ticker) -- The New Orleans Hornets may end up being thankful that the trade involving Tyson Chandler didn't work out.

After earning a win in Chandler's return to the lineup, the Hornets try to make it two in a row on Wednesday when they host the slumping Detroit Pistons.

In a cost-cutting move, New Orleans traded the veteran center to the Oklahoma City Thunder for forwards Joe Smith, Chris Wilcox and the draft rights to DeVon Hardin on February 17, only to have the move rescinded and Chandler returned the next day after failing his physical.

Following a 16-game absence due to a sprained left ankle, Chandler returned to the lineup Monday and scored 10 of his 15 points in the fourth quarter and added 10 rebounds as the Hornets snapped a two-game slide with a 112-105 win over the Sacramento Kings.

Chandler and New Orleans will aim to duplicate that performance against the Pistons, who suffered their seventh straight loss during a 103-91 setback to the Miami Heat on Tuesday.

Detroit hadn't lost seven consecutive contests since February 21 to March 2, 2003 and will try to avoid its first eight-game drought since 1994-95.