The Hornets are hoping a stretch of the schedule against weaker opposition will help them get to the .500 mark or higher, but they're not off to a good start. They were 7-9 after playing the toughest schedule in the NBA through six games, but their game at the Kings on Sunday night began a stretch of five of six games against teams with losing records. They dropped to 7-10 when they dropped a 112-96 decision to the Kings, and next up is a game at the defending champion Lakers on Tuesday.
After that the Hornets play two games against the Timberwolves, another against the Kings, and one against the Knicks before things start getting tougher again.
With All-NBA point guard Chris Paul still sidelined indefinitely by a severely sprained left ankle, the Hornets are trying to keep from digging themselves a deep hole in the Western Conference standings.
KINGS 112, HORNETS 96: The Hornets' inability to slow down the Kings put them in an early hole, and they never got untracked. The Kings shot 53.7 percent from the floor and made 9-of-18 three-pointers. As bad as the 112 points allowed were, it was just the fifth-highest total allowed by the Hornets this season.
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