Pacers visit wounded Hornets

New Orleans/Oklahoma City plays the third of a four-game homestand. On Thursday, Richard Hamilton scored 27 points, 17 in the first quarter, and the Detroit Pistons routed the Hornets, 92-68, at the Ford Center.

Jannero Pargo led the Hornets with 16 points and eight rebounds in the loss to the Pistons. Desmond Mason scored 15 points, while Devin Brown netted 14 and pulled down eight rebounds off the bench for the Hornets, who have dropped six of their last seven games overall.

The Hornets continue to play without star guard Chris Paul (sprained right ankle) and forwards Peja Stojakovic (lower back) and David West (right forearm/elbow). Paul, was injured on December 26th, leads the team in scoring (18.4 ppg) and assists (9.0 apg). Stojakovic is averaging 17.8 points per game and last played on November 24th, while West (right forearm/elbow) is averaging 17.4 points and 8.3 rebounds and has not played since November 12th.

New Orleans/Oklahoma City is 7-8 at home this season. The Hornets will host the Los Angeles Clippers on Monday.

Indiana tries to put the brakes on a two-game losing streak. Josh Howard scored 25 points and pulled down 11 rebounds, as the Dallas Mavericks rallied in the fourth quarter to beat the Pacers, 100-91, at American Airlines Center.

Al Harrington had 24 points and 11 rebounds in the loss to the Mavericks for Indiana. Jermaine O’Neal tallied 20 points, 16 rebounds, five assists and five blocked shots in defeat.

The Pacers are 8-11 on the road this season. They are scheduled to return home to host the Atlanta Hawks on Tuesday at Conseco Fieldhouse.

This is the second and final meeting of the campaign between the Pacers and New Orleans/Oklahoma City. On November 3rd, West scored 20 points and Paul netted 16, as the Hornets rallied to beat Indiana, 100-91, at Conseco Fieldhouse.

Indiana has won four of its last six at the Hornets.