The Hornets are in the capital today, where they will try avenge that miserable loss to the Wizards in New Orleans last Monday. You may recall DeShawn Stevenson twisting the knife as the final buzzer sounded.

Since then, the Hornets have bounced back and defeated the Suns and the Jazz by a combined 29 points. Let's hope they can keep it going and pay the Wizards back, with some serious interest.

Stuff to know ahead of this one…

Hornets (W-L): 39-18

Wizards (W-L): 28-30

Game Time: 5:00pm Central.

TV: CST

Radio: KMEZ 102.9 FM in New Orleans and WIBR 1300-AM in Baton Rouge.

Linkage: AP game preview | Bullets Forever

The Wiz will again be lacking some big guns, namely Gilbert Arenas and Caron Butler. Washington has gone 1-1 since we last saw them, getting hammered by the Yao-less Rockets on Tuesday, then winning by 6 in Chicago on Friday. Stevenson totaled 7 points in those two games.

This is an open thread post, which means you can post comments, much like you can on our regular posts. So it's just like a regular post really. I'm going to go outside now.

[Ryan Edit – Hornets v Wizards: Fairytale Edition]

Once upon a time, there was a group of powerful Wizards living within the confines of their Kingdom's capital. They were a fun-loving bunch, but had a reputation for swift and explosive power. This reputation had caused them to have to fight off challengers frequently, and several of their most powerful members had been wounded in battle.

One day, they heard a rumor about some giant Hornets that lived far in the south, terrorizing those who visited the city of New Orleans, and even swarming out of that city periodically to attack and punish random Bulls, Timberwolves, Bobcats and Grizzlies. Despite their injured members, the Wizards decided to destroy those Hornets and travelled to the Bayou, where they engaged in a mighty contest with the massive insects.

The Hornets had not expected to be attacked so unexpectantly, and when they realized who their opponent was, they took them lightly. The Wizards fought valiantly, and by the close of the battle, the Hornets hive was cold and dark, its denizens saddened by the outcome.

But these Hornets were not defeated. Regrouping, they sucked energy from the Sun, revitalized themselves through Jazz, and have set out to destroy their attackers.

In the Capital, at first only a faint buzzing noise bothered the residents, but as the Hornets have closed in, the humming has increased to defeaning proportions.

The Swarm is coming, and it is angry. Wizards beware.

[UPDATE] Hornets get blown out, 101-84.

Linkage: box | recap | standings