NEW ORLEANS (Ticker) -- Paul Silas hopes the Cleveland Cavaliers snap their 29-game road losing streak when they visit his former team, the New Orleans Hornets, on Wednesday at New Orleans Arena.
Silas surprisingly was fired by Hornets owner George Shinn in May despite having the team to the playoffs the last four seasons. Cleveland happily signed him in the offseason but the young Cavaliers have lost 10 of their first 14 contests, including the last three.
On Saturday, Cleveland fell at Atlanta, 92-83, to drop to 0-8 on the road this season. Zydrunas Ilgauskas contributed 21 points and 10 rebounds, Ricky Davis added 16 points and rookie LeBron James had 15 for the Cavaliers, who have not won on the road since January 12 at Seattle.
On Monday, Silas told Davis, with whom he had been feuding, that he would not be allowed to accompany the team to New Orleans, but he changed his mind on Tuesday.
Cleveland will be missing guard Ira Newble, who was suspended one game by the team for arguing with Silas after Saturday's loss.
The Cavaliers likely will be further shorthanded for the contest, as Carlos Boozer, the team's leading rebounder, has a sprained ankle and fellow forward Michael Stewart is on the injured list with teninitis in his right knee.
The Hornets lost to lowly Miami on Tuesday, 91-87, despite rallying from an 11-point deficit to take a fourth-quarter lead.
Baron Davis contributed 28 points and 10 assists for the Hornets, who received just 13 points from their bench.
New Orleans won three of four games against the Cavaliers last season. The Hornets have won nine in a row at home in the series since an 87-77 setback in Charlotte on February 10, 1999.
