New Orleans Hornets (22-42) @ Brooklyn Nets (37-27)

Barclays Center 7:30

TV: YES – RADIO: WFAN 660 AM/101.9 FM

The Brooklyn Nets dropped a huge game last night against the Philadelphia Sixers, losers of 12 out of their last 13, 106-97.  To compound the divisional and conference loss, the New York Knicks lost a few hours later when they were thrashed in Golden State by the Warriors 92-63.   The Nets trail the Knicks by 2.5 games so every game counts and last night’s loss may come back haunt the Nets.

“They played harder than we did. They played better than we did,” Carlesimo said. “This game meant more to them than it did to us. They deserved to win the game.”

The Nets will try to bounce back tonight back at home to take on the struggling New Orleans Hornets.  The Hornets will arrive losers of five out of their last seven and few of them close games that they let slip away.  They are playing better as of late but the youth on the team is evident in close games.

Brooklyn won 101-97 at New Orleans on Feb. 26, when Deron Williams scored the team’s final 11 points of the game to finish with 33 points and eight assists.  The game was closer than it needed to be with the Nets having their usual third quarter troubles and being outscored 24-16 to allow it to be a game.

Joe Johnson needs to get the ball more and be a bit more active although he is still coming off that heel injury.  If Brooklyn’s backcourt plays well to start it will open things up for Brook Lopez to take rookie Anthony Davis to school once again after hitting him with 20 points, seven rebounds and five assists in the last game.

MATCHUP OF THE GAME: Deron Williams vs Greivis Vasquez

Last night, Williams recorded his 10,000th career point, becoming the 6th-fastest player in NBA history in 567 games.  The record means nothing to Williams because the Nets gave an important game away along with his 27 points and 13 assists.  The post All-Star break Williams has been on fire from the field and expect the same tonight.  Greivis Vasquez  is averaging 14 points and almost 10 assists per game in his breakout season.  The big point guard had a big game last time out with 20 points, seven rebounds, and five assists in the win against the Blazers.

STAT FOR TONIGHT: The Hornets are 5-5, in the last ten meetings on the road against the Nets.

Nets:

None

Hornets: