Hornets vs. Spurs Game 3 preview

Tonight’s Game 3 is pretty much do or die for the defending NBA champion Spurs when they host New Orleans down 2-0; San Antonio is a 6.5-point betting favorite with an over/under of 182 on WagerWeb.com.

Maybe if San Antonio can just withstand the third quarter tonight: In both setbacks, the Spurs have held a lead at the half, only to have the Hornets blow them away in the third quarter. The Spurs have been outscored 65-35 in Games 1 and 2 combined.

"They say you're supposed to win all your home games. The series doesn't start until the home team loses," Hornets star guard Chris Paul said Wednesday. "We understand their backs are against the wall right now but we've got to go in there and understand we really need to steal a game."

Paul, the NBA MVP runner-up, is averaging 23.5 points and 12.5 assists through the first two games and has easily gotten into the lane to create for himself and for his teammates. He has five double-doubles in seven playoff games this year, in which the Hornets are 6-1.

San Antonio, which has won four of the past nine NBA titles, has not been in an 0-2 hole since 2001 when it was swept by the Los Angeles Lakers in the conference finals. The Spurs have never come back to win a series after being down 2-0.

To get back in the series, they must find a way to slow Paul down. Bruce Bowen, one of the league's best one-on-one defenders, hasn't been able to shut him down. New Orleans has won four of the last five games between these teams, with an average margin of victory of 20.3 points.

"We've got a great point guard who makes great decisions," New Orleans coach Byron Scott said. "We surrounded him with individuals who can knock down shots. You've got to honor those guys (defensively). We've got an athletic big man (Tyson Chandler) who can probably outrun any center in this league. And we've got a power forward who can play inside or outside.”

In addition, David West has been a tough matchup for the Spurs, and Morris Peterson made all five of his shots from the field in Game 2 and is shooting 63.6 percent in the playoffs.

"We've got a bunch of young guys who are very, very hungry," Scott said. "They are playing for respect right now.

Meanwhile, San Antonio’s Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili said they expect the Spurs to be more physical in Game 3. The two will try to be more aggressive in getting to the rim, something that's been a challenge so far as the Hornets have crowded the lane to force perimeter shooting.

"We're going to have to realize that it's the only way, if we're going to have a shot, that without being physical it's not going to happen," Ginobili said, adding that his sore left ankle continues to improve.

Those of you expecting the Hornets to stumble in San Antonio might want to remember that in January the Hornets beat the Spurs 102-78 in San Antonio.

Betting trends: Spurs are 14-3-2 ATS in their last 19 playoff games as a favorite. ... Under is 5-0-1 in Hornets’ last 6 playoff games as an underdog. ... Home team is 4-0 ATS in the last 4 meetings. ... Hornets are 4-1 ATS in the last 5 meetings. ... Over is 7-3 in the last 10 meetings in San Antonio.