For most of their first post-season experience together, the neophyte Hornets' play has belied their inexperience.

That's changing as they've lost two straight games for the first time in the playoffs, including a 100-80 blowout at San Antonio in Game 4 on Sunday night.

They lost by an average of 15.5 points in Games 3 and 4 in San Antonio. Game 5 is Tuesday night in New Orleans, where the Hornets won by 19 and 18 points in the first two games.

"We knew they would respond and come back hard," forward Peja Stojakovic said of the Spurs. "They're the defending champions and we didn't play close to the way we played at home.

"We have to regroup and hopefully we'll play better basketball at home. We have to play better defense. We have to get rebounds and get out in the open court."

The Hornets are 5-0 at home in the playoffs and have won 17 of their last 18 home games, dating back to the latter part of the regular season.

SPURS 100, HORNETS 80: Tim Duncan had 22 points and 15 rebounds and Tony Parker scored 21 points as the Spurs routed the Hornets, leading the entire game except for 3:24 of the first half.

Duncan and Parker combined to make 18-of-25 shots as the Spurs made 51 percent of their shots. The Hornets made just 40 percent of their shots.

The Spurs methodically wore down the Hornets, leading by two after one quarter, 13 at halftime, and 24 after three quarters. The Hornets outscored the Spurs by four points in the fourth quarter after coach Byron Scott waved the white flag and sat all his starters for the fourth quarter.

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