For two weeks last spring, the Charlotte Hornets and Milwaukee Bucks waged war in one of the most closely contested NBA playoffs series? in recent history.

Milwaukee edged Charlotte 4-3 in an Eastern Conference semifinal series that saw road teams win critical games late in the series and saw the Bucks rally from a 3-2 deficit to win.

Tonight at 7:30 at the Charlotte Coliseum, they meet again.

But if you?re looking for revenge as a motive for the Hornets, guess again.

"It?s another game on our schedule," said Charlotte captain David Wesley. "It?s an important game. Don?t get me wrong. But not because it?s the Bucks, but because we need all the wins we can get right now."

At 13-15, the Hornets have a chance to move within one victory of the .500 mark that has eluded them for much of the past month.

Meanwhile, the Bucks have won two straight to improve to a 16-9 record that has them atop the Central Division and a half-game behind Boston and New Jersey for first place in the Eastern Conference.

"That?s the biggest significance of this game," Charlotte forward P.J. Brown said. "They?re in our division. They?re ahead of us. And we want to gain ground on them."

Besides, the teams have changed a bit since they last met.

Charlotte lost much of its bench through yet another roster reshuffling and has been without last year?s leading scorer Jamal Mashburn since late November with a strained abdominal muscle.

Also, Baron Davis suffered a bruised knee in Wednesday?s 99-93 victory over Washington and, while expected to play, will no doubt be slowed somewhat.

Milwaukee traded away one of the keys to their playoff victory over Charlotte in Scott Williams, but added former Hornet Anthony Mason as a replacement.

"We?re missing some players, so we?re a little different," Hornets coach Paul Silas said. "But they?re mostly the same, except for Mase, which I think helps them."

The Bucks also have played the last three games without Ray Allen, who has a sore left knee.

"Milwaukee?s always been tough for us," Silas said. "With or without someone like Ray Allen. He didn?t play (Wednesday), so hopefully he won?t play against us."

Yet, no matter who plays, Silas expects his team to have some extra motivation for Milwaukee because of last year.

"You know, you understand that it is a regular-season game and one that you need in your division," Silas said. "But you do want to show the guys that beat you that you?re not going to back down. So I would expect that we?re going to be up for the game."