The Hornets' six-game Eastern Conference road trip has gotten off to a good start with victories at Indiana (Tuesday) and Cleveland (Wednesday).
Now they not only get the team with the best record in the league -- the Celtics -- they get them six days after beating them, 113-106, when the rematch takes place Friday. After the Celtics beat the Suns on Wednesday, the Hornets are the only team in the league that Boston has not defeated this season.
New Orleans knows its biggest challenge on its longest road trip of the season will be trying to sweep Boston.
"With the Celtics, it's really pick your poison," Hornets coach Byron Scott said. "As dangerous and balanced as they are on the offensive end, it's their defense that keeps giving them a chance to win."
The Hornets, winners of five straight, enter the game in Boston with a 49-21 record.
"They have the best record in the league because they are doing it on both ends of the floor," Hornets forward Peja Stojakovic said of the Celtics. "It seems to me they understand what it takes."
HORNETS 100, CAVALIERS 99: David West's 17-foot jumper with less than a second remaining in the game lifted the Hornets over the Cavaliers on Wednesday in Cleveland.
After LeBron James gave the Cavaliers the lead on a lay-up with 7.7 seconds left, Chris Paul took an inbounds pass, drove into the lane, attracted a triple team, and passed the ball behind him to West, who was in the circle just beyond the foul line.
West's jumper gave the Hornets a sweep of the season series against the Cavaliers, and he finished with 20 points despite 7-of-19 shooting.
The Hornets held James to 21 points on 6-of-14 shooting in 40-plus minutes.
