Silas faces former team in New Orleans

Silas coached the Hornets for five seasons, but was fired just two days after the team was eliminated from the 2003 playoffs with a Game 6 loss at home to Philadelphia. It was the first time since 2000 that the Hornets failed to move past the first round of the playoffs.

Silas, the Hornets’ career leader in coaching victories, accepted an offer to become the Cavaliers’ head coach in June.

The Cavaliers are 0-8 as the visitor this year and have dropped 29 straight road games dating back to last season. Their last road win occurred on January 12, 2003 at Seattle.

Cleveland has dropped three straight overall and is coming off a 92-83 loss in Atlanta on Saturday. Zydrunas Ilgauskas paced Cleveland with 21 points and 10 boards. Ricky Davis chipped in 16 points and LeBron James netted 15 for the Cavaliers, who have dropped five of their last seven contests.

Davis was originally expected to sit out tonight for unspecified reasons. However, Silas, who also coached the guard when he played for the Charlotte Hornets, changed his mind and will let Davis play in New Orleans.

The Hornets are also coming off a setback, having lost for just the second time in seven games Tuesday after falling 91-87 in Miami.

Baron Davis poured in a game-high 28 points and dished out 10 assists for New Orleans. David Wesley scored 22 points and George Lynch added 11 in the loss — the Hornets’ second in three games.

The Cavaliers have lost their last nine games on the road against the Hornets and have never won in New Orleans. The Hornets moved from Charlotte to New Orleans after the 2001-02 season.

Cleveland’s last road victory against the Hornets was on February 10, 1999.

The Hornets have won five of the last six meetings.

New Orleans is 5-2 at home this season and is 7-3 within the Eastern Conference.