New Orleans, LA (My Sportsbook) - The New Orleans Hornets try for their third straight win when they welcome the Washington Wizards to the new Hive tonight.

Washington has won eight of its last 11 games and is coming off an 89-74 victory over the Denver Nuggets. Michael Jordan scored 25 points, as he continues to pick up the slack for an injured Jerry Stackhouse (groin). Larry Hughes added 20 points to the victory.

Jordan is expected to achieve yet another feat on Wednesday. The five-time MVP (31,406) now needs just 14 points to surpass Wilt Chamberlain (31,419) as the NBA's third all-time leading scorer. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (38,387) tops the list and is followed by Karl Malone (35,464).

Jordan's young Wizards began to trash-talk with the Nuggets, but he put an end to it.

"I told our guys to calm down and let me do all the talking," Jordan said. "You guys just play, and when we get a lead, then everybody can talk."

Denver came out with a spirited effort, but Washington's veterans stemmed the tide.

"They jumped on us early, and they rocked us back on our heels pretty good," Washington coach Doug Collins said. "Michael and Larry gave us the scoring we needed, so it was hard fought and a much needed win."

The Wizards are 7-11 on the road and have a 16-12 mark within the Eastern Conference.

New Orleans' latest surge comes on the heels of a five-game slide. The Hornets are coming off a 114-102 home win over the Phoenix Suns. David Wesley finished with 28 points, while Jamaal Magloire added 22 points and 10 rebounds to the victory. Jamal Mashburn added 19 points, while Baron Davis scored 18 and handed out nine assists.

Wesley scored 13 of his 28 points in the fourth quarter including a pair of clutch treys.

"That had been on our mind. We need to make baskets at the end to win the game," Wesley said. "This was a solid game all the way through. Even when they made their runs, we were able to hold them off."

The Hornets are 14-6 at home and have a 13-11 mark within the Eastern Conference.

The Hornets have won five of the last seven meetings in the series. Washington has lost seven of its last nine road games in the series, but this is its first trip to New Orleans.

The Hornets lead the all-time series 32-22.