New Orleans Hornets Team Report - February 2

(Basketball News) - The New Orleans Hornets finish up a two-game homestand on Wednesday night, as they welcome Southwest Division rival Dallas to New Orleans Arena.

It will be the second meeting of the season between the clubs. On November 3rd, Dallas knocked off the Hornets, 106-91, at New Orleans. Overall, Dallas has won 10 straight and 11 of the last 17 meetings in this series. The Mavericks have won five straight after losing their last four at the Hornets.

The last time the Hornets defeated the Mavericks was on November 17, 1999.

On Monday, Lorenzen Wright scored 19 points with 11 rebounds, and the Memphis Grizzlies held on to beat New Orleans 98-91 despite nearly blowing a 14-point lead in the fourth quarter.

Dan Dickau scored 19 points with 12 assists and a career-high four steals to lead the Hornets, who have dropped four of their last five contests. Lee Nailon added 14 points in defeat, while Rodney Rogers and Chris Anderson chipped in 13 apiece.

New Orleans, which has scored over 100 points only three times this season, is 0-15 in games decided by 10 points or more this season. The Hornets are 2-9 in Wednesday games this year.

The Hornets are 6-14 as the host this season. New Orleans has lost two of its last three at home.

After Wednesday’s contest, the Hornets embark on a four-game road trip. New Orleans will visit the Golden State Warriors, Utah Jazz, Seattle SuperSonics and Portland Trail Blazers on the swing.

New Orleans opens up its trip on Friday at Golden State and will then play the next night against the Jazz at the Delta Center. The swing will conclude next week with a game on Tuesday at Seattle and on Wednesday against the Blazers at the Rose Garden.

The Hornets are 1-1 against the Warriors and 1-0 against both the Jazz and Blazers this season. New Orleans will be playing Seattle for the first time in the 2004-05 campaign.

Dickau has played very well as of late. He has scored in double-digits in eight straight games and is averaging 19.1 points and 7.8 assists in that span. The 26-year-old point guard registered three double-doubles and played over 40 minutes in four of those contests.