Tonight’s game in New Orleans Arena between the New Orleans Hornets and Phoenix Suns features two teams going in opposite directions, one to the postseason, one to the offseason.

But that won’t alter the way the Hornets will approach the game, though the Suns, with nothing to lose, could change the way they’ve played this season.

“I don’t think we garner that type of respect from everybody,” said Hornets Coach Monty Williams, “so we’ve always played with a chip on our shoulder. We’ve been the team going into games that’s been somewhat of an underdog.

“I almost think it’s harder for teams to prepare for us because we play so hard because we know teams in the league haven’t respected us the way we feel we should have garnered that respect.”

This will be the third meeting in 24 days between the teams. New Orleans has won each of the previous two games, one here and one in Phoenix, since the Suns took a two-point win in Phoenix on Jan. 30.

The Suns have been eliminated from post-season play.