SoCal NBA Preview

LA Clippers (23-57) at New Orleans (55-25), 5:00 pm

NEW ORLEANS (Ticker) --The New Orleans Hornets desperately need to stop their late-season slide. The Los Angeles Clippers seem like a good candidate for them to get back on track. The Hornets hope to avoid a third straight loss Tuesday when they host the Clippers.

New Orleans had the inside track to clinch first place in the Western Conference entering the final week-plus of the regular season. However, losses to Utah, Sacramento and the Los Angeles Lakers (56-25) have left them one-half game behind the Lakers, who control the tiebreaker. While the losses to the Jazz and Lakers could have been expected, the 94-91 setback against the Kings was a bit surprising, especially since Sacramento played without leading-scorer Kevin Martin.

However, the arrival of the Clippers - a team New Orleans has defeated five straight times - should serve as a welcome sight as they enter this game on a five-game losing streak overall. They have lost 24 of their last 28 games. The Clippers fell, 122-116, in their last game on Saturday to the Golden State Warriors. Cuttino Mobley led the way for the Clippers with 30 points.