New Orleans (34-22) also is looking to win three in a row for the first time in more than a month. The Hornets have been victorious in four of their last six, including a 90-87 victory over Detroit on Wednesday.

David West had 30 points, Chris Paul added 20 and the two combined for 23 of the Hornets' 25 fourth-quarter points. Chandler, meanwhile, had a season-high 17 rebounds to go along with 10 points.

It was Chandler's second game back after failing a physical that scrapped a trade to Oklahoma City. The Hornets have won both contests after going 7-9 without him from Jan. 21-Feb. 21.

"He (Chandler) gives us the opportunity to get second-chance points, all the little things we've been missing since he has been out," coach Byron Scott said. "We are a better defensive and rebounding team when he is in there."

New Orleans is looking for its first three-game run since Jan. 17-21.

The Hornets begin play in third place in the Southwest Division, five games behind first-place San Antonio. They hope this game, which starts a stretch in which three of their next five opponents are below .500, will help close the gap.

"We talked about trying to put together a string of games where we can run off some wins and get some momentum," West said. "We were able to come in and play with the type of intensity we need to carry throughout the rest of the year."

The Hornets have won five straight over the Bucks (28-32) and seven in a row against them at home. New Orleans is in good position to continue those streaks as Milwaukee is slumping again, losing three of four after winning five of seven.

Milwaukee - clinging to a one-game lead over Chicago and New Jersey for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference - is coming off a 116-96 loss to Dallas on Wednesday.

Charlie Villanueva scored 25 points, including 19 in the first quarter, but the Bucks were outscored 30-15 at the free-throw line and outrebounded 51-25.

Villanueva, who is averaging 29.0 points in his last three games, scored the Bucks' first 11 points. He accounted for all of his team's field goals in the first quarter, going 8-of-11 while his teammates were 0-for-13.

"I felt like we were incredibly soft, except for maybe the first three minutes of the game," Bucks coach Scott Skiles said.

Milwaukee has given up 110.0 points in its last nine games and has been outrebounded in six of those contests. The Mavericks scored 46 points in the paint as the Bucks continue to try to adjust without center and leading rebounder Andrew Bogut (back) and Michael Redd (knee).

The Bucks could be in for another difficult night. Chandler is averaging 16.0 points and 18.3 rebounds in his last four games against Milwaukee.

The Bucks haven't won in New Orleans since a 108-93 victory in 2003.