(My Sportsbook) - The New Orleans Hornets will try to stay on top in the Southwest Division when they close out a short two-game homestand Monday versus the New York Knicks in the Big Easy.

The Hornets took a one-half game lead over San Antonio in the division standings after the Orlando Magic topped the Spurs on Sunday night. New Orleans was off yesterday, but has won two of three and six of its last eight to stay in contention.

In Friday's 107-80 blowout of the Los Angeles Clippers at New Orleans Arena, Rasual Butler scored a game-high 27 points and Tyson Chandler posted 13 and 11 rebounds for the Hornets, who improved to 12-4 as the host this season. James Posey had 16 points and Chris Paul added 10 points, seven assists and five rebounds.

New York will try to close out a four-game road trip with some decency Monday night and has dropped the first three tests of the swing. The losses kept coming for the Knicks on Saturday, when the shorthanded Houston Rockets posted a 96-76 victory at the Toyota Center.

Tim Thomas had 18 points and David Lee recorded 14 and 11 rebounds for the Knicks, who lost for the 10th time in 12 contests. Nate Robinson had 17 points and six rebounds in defeat.

The Knicks are 5-14 away from Madison Square Garden this season. New York center Eddy Curry (knee) is questionable for Monday. Curry, who did not play against the Rockets, returned to action Thursday against Dallas after missing the first 33 games of the season with a knee problem.

New Orleans went 2-0 against New York last season and has won seven straight and 11 of the previous 15 encounters. The Knicks have lost three in a row in the Big Easy.