New Orleans (7-5) at Los Angeles (2-11)
Currently: - Game info: 10:30 pm EST Mon Nov 24, 2008
- TV: FSNW
The slumping Los Angeles Clippers are trying to find an identity, while the face of the New Orleans Hornets continues to produce.
The Clippers hope Zach Randolph can provide a spark in his debut on Monday night in Los Angeles, something Chris Paul has been doing all season for the Hornets.
Off to a slow start and already in last place in the Pacific Division, the Clippers (2-11) acquired Randolph and Mardy Collins on Friday from the New York Knicks in exchange for Cuttino Mobley and Tim Thomas. The pair were inactive Saturday in Los Angeles’ 112-95 loss to New Jersey, but the arrival of Randolph — third in the NBA at 12.5 rebounds per game—should give the Clippers a much-needed boost on the boards, where they have been outrebounded by 5.2 per game.
“It’s going to help having Zach and Mardy but tonight we couldn’t have them,” said Chris Kaman, who had 14 points and five rebounds. “That isn’t the reason for the loss. We can beat this team with the team we had on the floor. We just didn’t play it the right way.”
Marcus Camby, who notched his second double-double of the season with a season-high 18 points with 13 rebounds, averaged 8.3 points and 13.7 rebounds in three games against New Orleans in 2007-08 while playing with Denver.
Baron Davis will try to follow up his 30-point, 10-assist game against New Jersey with another big outing against the Hornets. Davis is averaging 24.5 points and 8.5 assists in his last six games versus New Orleans.
The Hornets (7-5) begin a three-game road trip buoyed by another stellar effort from Paul, who posted his first triple-double of the season and fifth of his career with 29 points, 16 assists and 10 rebounds as New Orleans completed a home-and-home sweep of the Oklahoma City Thunder with 109-97 win on Saturday.
Paul also extended his steals streak to 96 games with three steals.
“It was his best game of the year,” Hornets coach Byron Scott said of Paul, who leads the NBA in assists (11.8) and steals (3.1).
Since a 105-96 loss to Sacramento on Wednesday, Paul has averaged 23.0 points, 11.0 assists, 8.0 rebounds and 3.0 steals.
While Paul has averaged just 13.3 points in his last six games versus the Clippers—5.1 below his career average of 18.4 points—he has averaged 11.5 assists in helping the Hornets win all six of those games.
David West, who has shot better than 50 percent in nine of 14 career games against the Clippers while averaging 16.7 points, had a season-high 33 on Saturday, making 13-of-20 from the field.
New Orleans, which is shooting 46.5 percent from the field—fifth in the NBA—made a season-best 54.1 percent on Saturday and has hit 51.7 percent of its shots the past three games. That accuracy could continue against the Clippers, who have allowed three opponents to shoot better than 50 percent during their current 1-5 stretch.
Team Comparison
| Team | Record | Standings | PF | PA | Road/Home | Streak | L10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Orleans | 49-33 | 4th Southwest / 7th West | 95.8 | 94.3 | Road 21-20 | Lost 2 | 4-6 |
| Los Angeles | 19-63 | 4th Pacific / 14th West | 95.1 | 103.9 | Home 11-30 | Lost 3 | 1-9 |
Blog Coverage from SB Nation
At The Hive
Clips NationNotes
C Tyson Chandler, who had played just 20 minutes since inflammation in his left ankle forced him out of the Hornets' lineup on March 2, started and logged 27 minutes, scoring six points and pulling down five boards while committing five fouls. Chandler missed all four games against Denver this season, and the teams split 2-2.
Apr 20, 1:52 am EDT
Clippers F Zach Randolph missed the finale because of a mild concussion. ... Los Angeles F Al Thornton, notorious for munching on McDonald's before games, said he will cut out all fast food and hire a chef to eat healthier in preparation for next season. Thornton has a torn tendon in his right shoulder and has not played the last five games. ... The Clippers finished the season 19-63, the eighth worst-record in franchise history.
Apr 16, 1:13 am EDT