The Hornets are trying to take advantage of a light stretch in their schedule. Their 104-91 victory at home against the Suns on Wednesday was the first of just two games during an 11-day stretch.
"We're doing a lot of work on our offense and our defense," coach Byron Scott said. "One thing we're doing is making sure our second team understands what we're doing. The starters understand pretty much everything, but sometimes I'll call something in practice and the second team will look around and I know they have no idea what I'm talking about." Scott said the team is also spending extra time on areas in which it needs to improve, such as rebounding. They went into Wednesday's game last in the NBA in rebounds per game, but out-rebounded the Suns, 46-30.
"I tell our guys that every time the other team gets an offensive rebound, they're going to have to run," Scott said. "Our guys don't like to run. That's how we emphasize the need for everyone to go to the boards."
The Hornets are 10-6 as they prepare to play host to the Grizzlies on Saturday.
HORNETS 104, SUNS 91: Peja Stojakovic scored a season-high 24 points as the Hornets beat the Suns Wednesday night in the New Orleans Arena for their sixth consecutive victory against Phoenix. The Suns were shorthanded as center Shaquille O'Neal rested a sore knee and point guard Steve Nash, who had flu-like symptoms, also missed the game.
The Hornets had their highest-scoring quarter of the season in taking a 35-21 lead after one quarter. The Suns eventually took a three-point lead in the third quarter, but Stojakovic made two three-pointers and converted a three-point play to build a seven-point lead.
The Hornets increased the lead to 18 points early in the fourth quarter before the Suns made one last run. They got within nine before another Stojakovic three-pointer put the Hornets comfortably ahead.
