(Best E Casino) - A pair of teams that will be participating in the NBA playoffs battle tonight, as the top-seeded New Orleans Hornets host the Northwest Division-leading Utah Jazz at New Orleans Arena.

The Hornets are 1 1/2 games ahead of the San Antonio Spurs in both the Southwest Division and West standings. The Pacific Division-leading Los Angeles Lakers are also 1 1/2 games behind New Orleans in the conference.

If the Jazz, who are the fourth seed, are victorious or if Denver loses at the Clippers this evening, Utah would clinch its second straight Northwest Division crown.

New Orleans, which has won 11 in a row as the host, has won five in a row overall and will conclude a three-game homestand on Tuesday. MVP candidate Chris Paul posted the fourth triple-double of his career, as he scored 16 points, grabbed 10 rebounds and dished out 13 assists to lead the Hornets to a 108-96 victory over the Golden State Warriors on Sunday at New Orleans Arena.

The Hornets, who collected their franchise-record tying 54th win of the season against Golden State, are 29-10 at home this season. After tonight's contest, they will embark on a three-game road trip at Minnesota, the Lakers and Sacramento.

The last time the Hornets lost at home was on February 25 versus the Washington Wizards.

The Hornets won 54 games during the 1996-97 campaign.

Utah enters tonight's contest on a three-game winning streak, and will open a two-game road trip. The Jazz, who are 16-22 on the road this season and have dropped two straight as the visitor, will face the Dallas Mavericks on Thursday at American Airlines Center.

On Friday, Mehmet Okur scored 17 points and pulled down 16 rebounds as the Jazz crushed the Spurs, 90-64, at EnergySolutions Arena. Carlos Boozer and Deron Williams both scored 16 points in the victory.

The Jazz are 2-1 against the Hornets this season. Utah has dropped two of its last three at the Hornets.