Kings@Hornets...12/20, 5pm
Posted: Sat Dec 20, 2008 11:48 pm
We beat the the last time in NO...can we do it again?
TONIGHT'S GAME: Kings (7-20) at New Orleans (15-7)
Tipoff: 5 p.m., New Orleans Arena.
Outlook: Could Nov. 19 happen again? The Kings surely hope so. When they left New Orleans Arena that night with a 105-96 win, a three-game losing streak had ended, and it seemed it could be a spark. As it was, they wouldn't win again for three weeks as they dropped eight in a row. Rare wins such as those made many fans and even the players themselves wonder why they couldn't consistently compete, as John Salmons had scored 29 points and the Kings had shot 54.7 percent from the field in the upset.
Hornets update: After a 5-5 start in which the Hornets had pundits coast-to-coast wondering if they were feeling the pressure of so much expectation, they have again looked like title contenders. They've won 10 of their last 12 games, the latest victory coming Wednesday against visiting San Antonio (90-83). However, they lost at defending champion Boston 94-82 on Dec. 12.
Probable starters
KINGS
Bobby Brown (Beno and Jackson are both injured)
Francisco Garcia
John Salmons
Spencer Hawes
Brad Miller
HORNETS
Chris Paul
Rasual Butler
Peja Stojakovic
David West
Tyson Chandler