NBA: Washington at New Orleans (8:00 PM ET, COX)
New Orleans has been a pleasant NBA surprise.
2008-02-25
New Orleans has been a pleasant NBA surprise. On Monday, the Hornets try to avoid just their third 3-game losing streak of ’07-08 when they host Washington as 10-point favorites. Over 70% of Sportsbook.com’s early bettors like the hosts’ chances.
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The Hornets started the second half of the season having to play all three teams from Texas. They defeated Dallas, but lost back-to-back games against fellow division rivals Houston and San Antonio, to fall into a first place in the Southwest Division, as well as the Western Conference.
“We knew this was going to be a tough stretch out of the All-Star break, but I liked the energy we came out with against Dallas,” said All-Star forward David West, shooting 47.3 percent from the field this season but just 42.2 percent (19-for-45) since the break. “Then we weren’t able to do that tonight. We couldn’t do that last night.”
The Hornets (37-17, 25-28-1 ATS) have lost three straight games only twice this season, Nov. 19-23 and Jan. 30-Feb. 4. Avoiding another three-game skid could be easier at home, where the franchise has won 10 straight games against the Wizards since the Charlotte Hornets fell to Washington 95-77 on Nov. 1, 2000. New Orleans is 21-10 ATS after two or more consecutive losses over the last two seasons.
Even with this recent bump, their problems pale in comparison to those of the Washington Wizards. With two of their top players sidelined, the Wizards look to avoid their 11th loss in 13 games as they visit the Hornets on Monday. Washington (26-29, 27-27-1) has been playing without last season’s leading scorer Gilbert Arenas since mid-November, and All-Star forward Caron Butler has missed 11 of 13 games with a hip flexor strain.
Unfortunately for the Wizards, it doesn’t look like either player will be ready to return soon. Arenas had been targeting a return on March 2, but said Saturday he doesn’t expect to be ready then. “If I wanted it to be, it can be realistic,” said Arenas, who hasn’t practiced with the team since undergoing surgery on his left knee for the second time in eight months on Nov. 21. “But, it’s going to be longer to get into shape.” The two-time All-Star hasn’t set a new target date for his return. “It’s hard to tell,” Arenas said. “If I really want to get out there, I can play now, but are you going to get two good minutes out of me? Right now, it’s about me trying to get my body into shape and ready to play again. That’s where I’m at right now.”
Butler, meanwhile, was examined by team physicians Saturday, and Wizards coach Eddie Jordan didn’t sound encouraged by the results. “He’s not ready to go,” Jordan said. “No long-range plan right now. He’s not ready to practice. We may even cut back on some of his extraneous rehabbing - maybe calm him down a little more.”
Despite the absence of both Arenas and Butler on Saturday, the Wizards beat lowly Charlotte 110-95 for their second win in 12 games. The Wizards are 3-14 ATS off a home win scoring 110 or more points over the last two seasons.
“We’re trying to get guys to close games out,” said Jordan, whose club had all five starters in double figures. “The guys who are on the floor—that’s not their role. It’s their role now because that’s what they have to do. We have to get wins when people don’t expect us to get it.” To their credit, Washington is 14-6 ATS as a road underdog this season.
This is exactly how Sportsbook.com has them listed, with the Wizards 10-point underdogs, with a total of 195.5. Washington is still in the sixth slot in the Eastern Conference and is 16-4 ATS on the road where the total is between 190 and 199.5 points over the last two years. New Orleans is no slouch, with the Hornets having stung Southeast Division teams with 12-3 ATS record.
CSN and Cox will telecast this NBA contest starting at 8 Eastern, with coach Byron Scott seeking defensive intensity, which has been lacking. New Orleans is 17-5 ATS at home after two straight games where they had five or less steals.
StatFox Power Line – New Orleans by 9
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