During the two-plus seasons that Monty Williams has served as New Orleans’ head coach, the Hornets have prided themselves on playing outstanding defense, holding opponents to under 100 points on a regular basis. That’s partly what made the team’s Nov. 17 defeat at Milwaukee such an uncharacteristic performance for New Orleans. The Bucks posted a 117-113 victory over the Hornets, in one of the highest-scoring games during the Williams era.
If the Hornets are to even their season series at 1-1 with the Bucks on Monday night in the Crescent City, they’ll need to be much stingier on the defensive end. At the Bradley Center in the previous meeting, the Bucks shot 52 percent from three-point range (13-for-25). Milwaukee racked up 60 points in the first half and added 57 more after intermission. Six different Bucks players reached double digits in scoring, including all five starters and hot-shooting reserve Mike Dunleavy (17 points).
New Orleans’ loss in Wisconsin was the third game of the team’s recent seven-game losing streak, which consisted of all seven opponents reaching 100 points in scoring. The Hornets ended their skein with an impressive 105-98 triumph at the Clippers on Nov. 26.
Anthony Davis led the Hornets with 28 points and 11 rebounds against the Bucks on Nov. 17. Unfortunately for Davis and the club, that was the last game Davis played prior to being sidelined due to a stress reaction in his left ankle. Ryan Anderson came off the bench to tally 20 points in Milwaukee, but with Davis out of action, Anderson moved into the starting lineup. Anderson was fantastic during New Orleans’ recent four-game road trip, going an eye-popping 21-for-33 from three-point range.
Intriguing matchup: Point guard, Greivis Vasquez vs. Brandon Jennings
For the majority of their young NBA careers, Vasquez and Jennings have shared few similarities in playing style. Vasquez is known mostly for his passing skills, while Jennings generally is viewed as a shoot-first point guard capable of putting up big individual numbers (as an NBA rookie in 2009-10, Jennings erupted for a 55-point game vs. Golden State). Early in 2012-13, Vasquez has improved noticeably as a scorer, twice posting a career-best 25-point game in November. Meanwhile, Jennings is averaging a career high in assists. Jennings’ 22-point, nine-assist, four-steal game vs. New Orleans on Nov. 17 was a big key to Milwaukee’s victory.
