By By Richard Dark / EMG staff writer
Nov. 13, 2003
NEW ORLEANS New Orleans current version of pro basketball is undefeated against its former one.
The Hornets snapped a two-game losing streak by holding the youthful, new-look Utah Jazz at bay the entire night with timely shots and adequate defense, which had not been present in their last two losses against the Bulls and Mavericks.
With the 96-89 victory that came on Wednesday night's Pete Maravich bobble-head doll night, the Hornets (6-3) improved to 3-0 against the Jazz (4-4) since they arrived in the Crescent City last season.
Baron Davis' superior play continued, as he led New Orleans with 23 points and nine assists.
David Wesley rang up 17, while Steve Smith added 15. Matt Harpring paced the Jazz, who are playing without either Karl Malone and John Stockton this season for the first time since 1985, with 20, and DeShawn Stevenson had 15.
Harpring's layup with 3:50 to go in the first quarter gave the Jazz a four-point lead. It shrank to just one at the end of the first quarter and from then on, the Hornets took control.
The final 7:31 of the first half was all New Orleans, as they shot out on a 21-9 run to take a 13-point lead at the break. Jumpers from Smith fueled the outburst.
With nearly 12,000 fans, including Archie and Olivia Manning looking on, the Jazz gnawed into the lead midway through the final period, cutting it to five on a Jaron Collins bucket, but Floyd's bunch clamped down and answered with a 7-0 spurt.
The Hornets have only practiced once in the past nine days, due to a stretch of six games over that span. New Orleans lost the battle of the boards 35-30.