That old confidence is coming back. So too are the big shots and the critical defensive stops.

At long last the Hornets are starting to look in the mirror and feel better about what they see. Their timing couldn't be much better.

"I liked our team last season," guard David Wesley said. "And I'm starting to like our team again this season."

Like almost everyone else in the NBA's Eastern Conference, the Hornets are scrambling furiously for playoff position as they count down the last 16 games of the regular season.

Their newfound outlook won't make life any easier for them when they go to the Charlotte Coliseum today at 7 p.m. to face Indiana in a game coach Paul Silas describes as "very, very tough, with playoff implications." But they're clearly at a better starting place than they have been.

The Hornets have won three in a row and four of their past five, modest streaks but good in light of the ups-and-downs of their injury-plagued season. They are again back at .500 with a 33-33 record.

Indiana is 34-32 and in seventh place in the East, one game ahead of Charlotte. It has a four-game winning streak, matching its longest of the season.

"Three wins aren't that many, but they're a start for us," said Wesley.

"I don't think a winning streak in itself is all that important. Teams in the East have all been choppy with streaks this season, the way the standings are. What's more important is continuing to play well.

"We haven't been able to win three or four, lose one, then win three or four more. That's what we need to do now."

Silas said he senses a change now that the starters from last season - Wesley, Baron Davis, Elden Campbell, Jamal Mashburn and P.J. Brown - are together again after Mashburn and Wesley recovered from injuries.

"We're finding ways to win again and that's the most important thing," Silas said. "I've been hoping for this. But now I'm starting to see it.

"You have the banter in the locker room about winning, about where we are (in the standings). And I wasn't hearing that before.

"We're winning at home now, too, and that's important. Now that we have all our players back we feel like we can win anywhere, if we play well. Before I think all the distractions (of sparse crowds and franchise relocation talk) really had an effect on us at the Coliseum.

"The margin of error was so thin when we had all the injuries, we had to really play well to win, no matter where we were."

The Hornets and Pacers have split two games this season, with each team winning at home. This will be the first game since Indiana acquired starting center (and former Hornet) Brad Miller and forward Ron Artest from Chicago.

"I think they're a much better team with those two," Wesley said. "They're getting good defense out of both of them. They can both score around the basket and draw fouls. It's given Indiana a really different look."

It's one the Hornets will have to rapidly adjust to. After today's game they play at Orlando on Friday, then face the Pacers again in Indianapolis on Sunday afternoon.

Starting lineups  
Hornets Pos. Pacers
Baron Davis PG Jamaal Tinsley
Jamal Mashburn SG Reggie Miller
Elden Campbell C Brad Miller
P.J. Brown PF Jermaine O'Neal
George Lynch SF Ron Artest


Scouting Report

? The Pacers come in with a different look than the last time they were here. They acquired two new starters -- former Hornet Brad Miller (13.0 ppg, 8.2 rpg) and Ron Artest (14.5, 4.9) -- in last month's trade with Chicago.

? Indiana is one game ahead of Charlotte in the fight for seventh place in the East. The Pacers have a four-game winning streak.

? The Hornets and Pacers split their two previous games this season, with each winning at home. They'll meet again Sunday in Indianapolis.