76ers-Hornets Preview

With David West and Tyson Chandler out, New Orleans' interior defense hasn't been as effective as usual. The Hornets, though, didn't need to dominate down low to shut down the Philadelphia 76ers last season.

With West and Chandler still hurt, the Hornets look to keep the 76ers in check again when the teams meet Monday night.

West (back) has missed three straight games and Chandler (left ankle) two in a row, leaving New Orleans (26-14) without its two best interior defenders. Neither player is expected back for this contest.

Big men Melvin Ely and Ryan Bowen were to left to defend Minnesota's Al Jefferson on Friday night, and the Hornets lost 116-108.

New Orleans is one of the league's best teams in defending the post, but gave up 52 points in the paint to the Timberwolves and was outrebounded 42-26. Jefferson had 24 points and 14 boards.

The Hornets came in allowing 34.1 points in the paint per game, fewest in the league.

New Orleans wasn't overwhelming underneath in two games versus the 76ers (21-21) last season, but still held them to 74.0 points a contest and 40.3 percent shooting.

In a 93-72 win over Philadelphia on Nov. 11, 2007, the Hornets were outscored 30-26 in the paint and outrebounded 41-35. New Orleans faced the Sixers again three days later, and outscored them by six points in the paint and edged them by one on the boards.

The absence of West and Chandler, however, will certainly make things tougher for the Hornets this time. Philadelphia ranks among the league leaders in post scoring, averaging 33.8 points in the paint, and finally has Elton Brand back.

The power forward returned to the lineup Saturday night after missing a month due to a dislocated right shoulder, scoring six points in 13 minutes as the Sixers beat New York 116-110.

Brand, who missed 16 games, came in against the Knicks for the first time with 1:26 left in the first quarter.

"It's nice to have one under the belt," said Brand, who was 3-of-4 from the field. "Hopefully, the next game is a more fundamental matchup and I'll get more minutes in the game."

The Sixers went 9-7 without Brand and won seven consecutive games before losing 95-93 to Dallas last Monday. Philadelphia was 11-14 before he was sidelined. Brand signed a five-year, $80 million contract in the offseason and is averaging 15.5 points and 9.5 rebounds in 24 games.

"He still needs time to get the rhythm, to get his game legs," Sixers coach Tony DiLeo said. "He needs time just to play with the other players on the court."

With Brand adding depth to the frontcourt, Philadelphia scored 54 points in the paint against New York.

Due to injuries, the veteran big man has played in just two of his teams' last five games against New Orleans and was held to a combined 20 points and nine rebounds in those contests.

Swingman Andre Iguodala, who leads the Sixers with 17.6 points per game, averaged 11.0 while shooting 31.0 percent (9-for-29) in two matchups with the Hornets last year. Iguodala, though, is averaging 24.5 points in his last six games overall, shooting 56.0 percent from the field and 59.3 percent from 3-point range in that span.