Preview: Hornets (2-5) at Mavericks (3-5)

Earl K. Sneed previews the Mavericks' home matchup against the new-look New Orleans Hornets, as the defending champions try to shake off their lopsided loss in San Antonio likely without injured point guard Jason Kidd.

DALLAS — There is a far different look these days to one of the Dallas Mavericks’ Southwest Division foes. For that matter, there’s a different look to the reigning champs as well.

After making a franchise-altering trade to send perennial All-Star Chris Paul to the Los Angeles Clippers, the New Orleans Hornets no longer feature one of the game’s top point guards. And although budding star Eric Gordon — who is expected to miss at least two weeks with swelling in his knee — now brings his talent to the bayou, Paul’s cat-quick skills and domination from the lead guard position will no longer be staring the Mavs in the face when the two teams collide at the American Airlines Center on Saturday night.

Before making their way to the White House to meet and be honored by President Barack Obama next week for capturing last season’s NBA championship, the Mavericks (3-5) will try to begin a new upward trend following a sluggish start and a 93-71 loss in San Antonio on Thursday night. And with newcomers Vince Carter, Lamar Odom and Delonte West all becoming more and more comfortable in their new home, the new-look defending champs will take to the court trying to continue the jelling process against a Hornets team not thought to be a serious contender for the playoffs.

Coming back from a day off, the Mavs hope to have fresh legs after ending a stretch of six games in eight nights. However, the defending champs will be without the services of point guard Jason Kidd, after the future Hall of Famer suffered a lower back injury in the first quarter and never returned to the team’s worst scoring output and lowest shooting percentage game of the young season. Without Kidd operating as the floor general, the Mavericks will try to improve upon the 35.1 percent they shot against the rival Spurs while also attempting to improve a defense that surrendered 16 made 3-pointers.

“Offensively, just nobody had legs,” explained leading scorer Dirk Nowitzki after totaling just six points on 3-for-11 shooting. “A bunch of shots were right there that could have gone for JET [Jason Terry], myself, L.O. [Odom], a lot of guys. … Everything just seemed to come out. You know, when you have a lot of games like that, that’s gonna happen.”

“You’ve got to give them [the Spurs] credit. They throw in 16 threes. That’s shooting the heck out of it,” Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle added. “Some of that is obviously we made some mistakes. But they put us in those positions, so you’ve got to give them credit.”

Still, even with another divisional rival in town to try to upstage the champs on their home floor, the Mavericks’ focus remains on bettering themselves as the 66-game sprint continues at a swift pace.

“We’re very capable. We know that. It’s just gonna take a little time,” Carter explained. “A lot of guys are having to learn on the floor from each other and want to play well. Sometimes it’s tough, because you try so hard to fit in. … You just have to find your spots. And I think now we’re starting to understand how each individual plays, how we can play as a team and how your role fits in the offense.”

“Go out and try and take it game by game and go get ‘em,” Odom added. “All we can do now is take our time and chip away.”

Against the 2-5 Hornets, the Mavs will rely once again on their bench, which features Carter, Odom and fellow former Sixth Man of the Year Jason Terry. Believing themselves to once again be the best collection of reserves around the league, Terry says the offensive-oriented trio has one job once it hits the court in relief of the starters: To provide a spark.

“Well, if you look at our bench — myself, Vince Carter, Lamar Odom — those three guys in itself are starters in the league, a couple of them All-Stars. So, we have to come out and dominate,” Terry said. “Whoever they put out there for the other team’s bench, we have to win that matchup. If we do so then we’re gonna put ourselves in a position to win every night.”

Saturday night, with the injured Kidd not available and out of the first unit, the Mavs may need that spark from the bench most of all.

Note: The Mavs return home to face off with the New Orleans Hornets on Saturday night, in a game that will air locally on Fox Sports Southwest at 8 p.m. CT. Tickets are still available and can be purchased by calling (214) 747-6287.

Single-game tickets are on sale and available at the American Airlines Center North Box Office, online at mavs.com, via phone by calling 214-747-MAVS or 1-800-4NBA-TIX and all Ticketmaster outlets (Fiesta Grocery Stores, Wal-Mart, Simon Mall in Garland and the Shops at Willow Bend in Plano).

Rivalry Pack: Aside from being a season ticket holder, the only way for Mavs fans to attend either of the two Los Angeles Lakers games is through the Rivalry Pack. Tickets to the Feb.22 and March 21 games vs. the Los Angeles Lakers can be purchased as part of a three-game package that includes one (1) of the three premium games and two (2) additional regular season games.

RPL Nights: RPL Nights return for the sixth season and will feature special discounted tickets for 10 pre-selected games. Tickets normally priced $9 will be $2, $15 will be $10, $31 will be $20 and $42 will be $32.