(Sports Network) - After losing the last four tests on the road the Hornets
will try to snap a 10-game losing streak when they host the Indiana Pacers at
New Orleans Arena on Saturday.
The Hornets, who are last in the Western Conference with a 5-21 record, saw
their skid reach double digits Friday evening in San Antonio as the Spurs
posted a 99-94 win. The setback sealed a winless four-game road trip for New
Orleans.
Tony Parker led the Spurs with 25 points on Friday while rookie Anthony Davis
scored a team-high 18 points on 8-of-13 shooting to go with 11 rebounds in the
loss. Greivis Vasquez added 14 points for the Hornets, while Ryan Anderson and
Brian Roberts donated 12 and 11 points, respectively, in the setback.
Although New Orleans trailed 54-42 at the break it was able to tighten things
up in the second half. Still, the Spurs would prove too much for the Hornets
in the end.
"The one thing that happens in a situation like that is you use so much energy
to get back in the game that when you cut it to four, six or even tie it up,
it's just tough," New Orleans head coach Monty Williams said.
New Orleans is 3-10 as the host this season and has lost four straight at home
since picking up its last win of any kind -- a 102-81 win over visiting
Milwaukee on Dec. 3.
While the Hornets enter Saturday on an epic skid, the Pacers head to New
Orleans having won two in a row and five of their last six contests. Indiana
was also in action on Friday when it recorded a 99-89 victory in Cleveland.
Roy Hibbert had 18 points, while David West tallied 15 points and 10 rebounds
to help lift the Pacers to the win in Cleveland. Lance Stephenson registered
16 points and seven assists, while George Hill added 13 points, eight boards
and five helpers for Indiana.
Paul George also filled the stat sheet with 10 points, five steals, five
rebounds and four assists in the victory.
"It was a good team win," Pacers head coach Frank Vogel said. "Great balance
from our starting five ... I thought we did a really good job with Kyrie
Irving."
The Pacers held Irving, who averages over 23 points per game this season, to
just 17 points on 5-of-16 shooting.
Indiana is 7-9 as the road team this season and has won two of its last three
away from the Hoosier State.
The Pacers have won three straight and four of their last five against the
Hornets. Indiana hosted New Orleans on Nov. 21 and the Pacers won that contest
115-107 in overtime.
The Sports Network