Celtics host Hornets

The Hornets are 1-1 on the current swing. Rookie phenom Chris Paul finished with 27 points, seven rebounds and 13 assists to lead the Hornets over the Knicks, 109-98, at Madison Square Garden.

Desmond Mason ended with 16 points in the win over New York for the Hornets, who have won five of their last six games overall. David West added 19 points and eight rebounds for New Orleans/Oklahoma City.

New Orleans/Oklahoma City is 8-13 on the road this season. The Hornets have won three of their last four games on the road.

Boston attempts to get back on the winning track. On Saturday, Vince Carter posted 25 points and eight rebounds to lead the Nets in a 103-83 blowout win over the Celtics in the finale of a home-and-home set at Continental Airlines Arena. The Celtics beat New Jersey in Boston on Friday, 99-96.

Paul Pierce scored 20 points and posted five rebounds in the loss to New Jersey to pace the Celtics. Al Jefferson finished with 11 points and Kendrick Perkins and Tony Allen both added 10 points in the loss

The Celtics, who play the first of a three-game homestand, are 12-8 at home this season. They will visit Washington and Sacramento in the final two contests of the stand.

This is the second and final meeting of the season between the clubs. On December 7th, Paul Pierce poured in 28 points and connected on 13-of-16 from the charity stripe, as the Celtics cruised to a 101-87 victory over the Hornets at the Ford Center.

The Celtics have won three straight in this series, while the Hornets have won five of the last nine meetings. The Hornets have lost three of their last five at Boston.