NEW ORLEANS -- The Charlotte Hornets and the New Orleans Pelicans will be on the back end of games on consecutive nights when they meet Saturday in the Smoothie King Center.And both are feeling pretty good after the way the front ends went Friday night. The Hornets (8-3) overcame a 10-point fourth-quarter deficit to end the Atlanta Hawks six-game win streak with a 100-96 home victory.At the same time the Pelicans (3-10) were welcoming back Anthony Davis and Jrue Holiday in a 113-101 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers in the Smoothie King Center.The back to backs tell a lot about how much you want to win, Hornets coach Steve Clifford said. Thats what the good teams do. You cant run from it.Charlotte didnt back down when Atlantas Dwight Howard threw an elbow at the head of Hornets center Cody Zeller and was ejected with 5:38 left in Fridays game. The Hawks led by three when Howard was called for the Flagrant-2 foul.The Hornets scored the next nine points, including seven by Kemba Walker, to take control.Zeller, a fourth-year forward, finished with 23 points, making 9 of 10 shots from the field.He gets better every year. He gets better every day, Walker said of Zeller. Skill-wise he gets better and he gets better with his confidence. He works hard each and every day to improve his game. It shows every night.Fridays game started a stretch in which the Hornets play 18 games in 32 days. They wont have consecutive days off until Dec. 17-18.This is a good way to start this stretch, Clifford said. If were a good team, the kind of team that we need to be, then weve got to find a way to play a good game on the road and get a win.Getting wins against the Pelicans has been easy for most teams this season, but the Hornets havent won in New Orleans in their previous three seasons under Clifford.New Orleans entered Fridays game with the worst record in the NBA, but Davis had 38 points, nine rebounds and six assists. Holiday had 21 points and seven assists off the bench as the Pelicans won their second consecutive home game.Their record is misleading, Clifford said. When you look at them play they have had a lot of injuries and theyve lost a lot of close games.Davis returned from a one-game absence with a bruised quad and Holiday made his season debut after being away from the team to be with his wife Lauren as she gave birth to the couples first child and underwent brain surgery.I think I did pretty well, Holiday said of his debut in which he had 10 points and four assists in the fourth quarter. It was really just the initial hit of being out there and in the first four minutes or whatever when I need to get a feel for the game. From there, I just felt more comfortable toward the end of the game.Holiday played 21 minutes and coach Alvin Gentry said he plans to gradually increase Holidays minutes but doesnt have a timetable for when his point guard will return to the starting lineup.Its tough for anyone to sit out all of training camp and all of the preseason and also the first 12 games of the season, Gentry said. 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The 29-year-old from Port Colborne, Ont., has nothing but good things to say about former U.S. marine Liz (Girlrilla) Carmouche ahead of their co-main event Wednesday on the UFCs "Fight for the Troops" televised card in Fort Campbell, Ky.THEY MAY HAVE ONLY PLAYED A HANDFUL OF GAMES BUT THESE PLAYERS WILL HAVE A BIG SAY IN AFL FINALSGEELONG: SAM MENEGOLAGames: 6Finals: 0Has looked comfortable at the highest level since making his AFL debut in round 18. The hard-running midfielder spent time on Fremantle and Hawthorns rookie list before being picked up by the Cats.Hes playing with huge confidence at the moment. Hes just got this huge running ability .. we want him to play the way he has been playing and well work around him, Cats skipper JOEL SELWOOD.HAWTHORN: JACK FITZPATRICKGames: 23 (1 at Hawthorn)Finals: 0Likely to keep his place in the side, even if both Ben Stratton and Ben McEvoy return against the Cats. Became a cult hero on club debut, booting a last-gasp goal from 60 metres out to help the Hawks secure their top-four spot in the final round of the season.He stepped up in a pretty big moment so that shows a bit about him ... it was brilliant to see him do that, Hawks midfielder ISAAC SMITH.SYDNEY: SAM NAISMITHGames: 9Finals: 0Injury and illness stalled the ruckmans progress after he joined the Swans via the 2013 rookie draft but has played the past eight games for the minor premiers. Faces a big job in the ruck against Shane Mumford.Weve been really happy with the way Naismith is going ... hes grown in confidence and his ruck work has been very good particularly at centre bounces, Swans coach JOHN LONGMIRE.GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY: JACOB HOPPERGames: 8Finals: 0Set to cap his first season in the system with finals action, having impressed in the last round of the season with a goal and 20 possessions. Battled stress fractures in his back earlier this year but now back to full fitness.Im a pretty impatient type of kid. There were definitely weeks that went by where I felt like I was running out of time. I just wanted to get back and play footy, HOPPER on his injury comeback.ADELAIDE: MITCH McGOVERNGames: 21Finals: 0The potent forwarrd was restricted by an achilles injury in 2015 but has made the most of his opportunities this year, playing 21 games.dddddddddddd Booted a total of 30 goals this season, adding another layer to the most potent forward line in the competition.Mitch is a quality person and a player that is always looking to learn more about the game ... he is athletic, skilful and epitomises the team-first approach of our club, Crows coach DON PYKE.NORTH MELBOURNE: JED ANDERSONGames: 19Finals: 1Suffered a hamstring injury in round one but the former Hawthorn speedster has produced glimpses of his best over the past month. One of many youngsters who will be asked to step up in the absence of Brent Harvey next year.I came over to North because I wanted to play games and Im doing that, growing my game and learning every week, ANDERSON on his first season at Arden St.WEST COAST: TOM BARRASSGames: 12Finals: 0The Rising Star nominee has attracted plenty of praise for his intercept marking this year. The defender played the best game of his short career in the final round of the season and looks set to continue keeping Eric Mackenzie and Mitch Brown out of the team.Hes an extremely talented guy. Physically hes a big unit. Jumps high. Marks the ball at its highest points. He can match it with most blokes his size, fellow defender WILL SCHOFIELD on the rise and rise of Barrass.WESTERN BULLDOGS: JOSH DUNKLEYGames: 13Finals: 0Has excelled in the second half of the season, spending more time in the midfield and stepping up in the absence of injured stars li, Tom Liberatore, Mitch Wallis and Jack Macrae. Its a fair effort given he was a second-round selection in last years draft.Josh is as determined to fast-track his AFL career as any young man we have been involved with, Bulldogs coach LUKE BEVERIDGE. ' ' '