The Hornets hope that the inordinate homecourt advantage that has existed in the second round of the playoffs holds true for the seventh and deciding game of their series against the Spurs.

Home teams are 20-1 in the conference semifinals, including 6-0 in the Hornets-Spurs series after San Antonio's 99-80 victory in Game 6 on Thursday. Game 7 will be played Monday night in the New Orleans Arena.

"This is what you fight the whole regular season for," Hornets guard Morris Peterson said. "You want to have homecourt advantage when it counts the most."

The Hornets have averaged 85.7 points in San Antonio and 101.0 in New Orleans. The Spurs have averaged 103.0 in San Antonio and 81.7 in New Orleans.

SPURS 99, HORNETS 80: The Spurs held the Hornets to just 29 points in the second half and pulled away for the third time in as many home games in this series.

They outscored the Hornets, 20-12, in the third quarter to turn a seven-point halftime edge into a 15-point edge entering the fourth quarter.

In the three games in San Antonio, the Spurs have outscored the Hornets in every third quarter, the average score being 26.3-17.7. In New Orleans, the Hornets have outscored the Spurs in each third quarter and the average score has been 31.0-15.3.

The Spurs out-shot the Hornets 49 percent-41 percent, making 11-of-21 three-pointers compared to the Hornets' 2-for-9, and they had 28 assists, compared to the Hornets' 13.

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