04-10-2007, 05:43 AM
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#1 (permalink)
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Join Date: Nov 2005
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L.A. Clippers (37-39) @ New Orleans Hornets (36-41)...4/10/07
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7:00pm CST
Ford Center-Oklahoma City, OK
   
   
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Back-to-back defeats have cost the Los Angeles Clippers their hold on the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference, while a recent surge by the New Orleans Hornets has them right in the mix.
Both teams try to improve their postseason chances when they meet Tuesday at Oklahoma City.
Los Angeles (37-39) is technically ninth in the West, but just a fraction of a percentage point behind eighth-place Golden State. The Clippers have six games remaining, while the Warriors have four to play. New Orleans (36-41) sits in 10th place, 1 1/2 games out of the final spot.
The Clippers have dropped two in a row, including a 96-86 defeat to the Dallas Mavericks on Monday, following a 7-1 stretch. Their latest loss, coupled with the Warriors' 126-102 win over Utah on Monday, eliminated the Clippers' cushion in the standings.
Los Angeles needs to get back on track quickly if it wants to make the playoffs in back-to-back seasons for the first time since 1992-93. The Hornets have missed the postseason the last two years, but have won four of their last five games to put pressure on Golden State and Los Angeles.
New Orleans beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 96-94 on Saturday, getting a boost from the return of Chris Paul. The Hornets' standout guard had missed the previous game with a sore left foot, but recorded 18 points, including 10 straight in one third-quarter stretch, and 10 assists.
"Chris is a little fire cracker," said Marc Jackson, who started his second straight game at center for New Orleans and had 15 points and 11 rebounds. "For him to be out there with six or seven games left in the season trying to help us get to the playoffs, that means a lot."
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Marc will probably start in Tyson's place again. I doubt he'll be any help in keeping Kaman off the boards though. The Clippers will be hungry for this win seeing as they lost to Dallas last night and have basically tied for the 8th spot with Golden State.
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