The Charlotte Hornets ended their losing streak with the kind of defense they've needed to win all season, and the New Orleans Pelicans halted theirs with an outside shooting effort that's typically absent from their arsenal.
The teams seek their first winning streak of the new year Friday night in New Orleans, though additional losing streaks loom: The Hornets are up against an eight-game road skid while the Pelicans are in danger of losing a season-worst fourth straight at home.
Wednesday's 107-84 win over Atlanta ended a season-worst seven-game losing streak for the Hornets (18-20), on which they'd fallen from 1 1/2 games back of the Hawks to 5 1/2 and last place in the Southeast Division.