(Sports Network) - The defending world champion San Antonio Spurs attempt to stave off elimination, as they host the New Orleans Hornets tonight at the AT&T Center in Game 6 of their Western Conference semifinal series.

New Orleans leads this best-of-seven-series 3-2. If necessary, Game 7 of this best-of-seven set is scheduled Monday at New Orleans Arena.

The home team has won all five games in this series. On Tuesday, David West had career playoff-highs of 38 points and 14 rebounds, as the second-seeded Hornets continued their success at home with a 101-79 win over San Antonio in Game 5 of the set.

Chris Paul added 22 points and 14 assists for the Hornets. West, who shot 16- of-25 from the field, also had five assists and five blocked shots. The Hornets are one win away from advancing past second round for first time in franchise history.

Morris Peterson tallied 12 points and Jannero Pargo netted 10 for New Orleans, which had just six turnovers. The Hornets are 6-0 at home in the playoffs this year.

Hornets center Tyson Chandler had to be helped to the bench with 8:47 left in the fourth quarter after hurting a toe on his left foot. He didn't return, while West played through a back injury most of the night.

Manu Ginobili scored 20 points and dished out seven assists for the Spurs. Tim Duncan finished with 10 points and 23 rebounds, but was just 5-for-18 from the field. Tony Parker scored 18 and Bruce Bowen netted 10 in defeat.

Chandler and West are both probable for tonight's contest.

San Antonio is 5-0 at home in this year's postseason. The Spurs, who have never won a playoff series when they lose the first two games of the set, have captured 11 straight as the host in the postseason.

The Spurs have won three of their last four games when facing elimination. They have won two straight Game 6s in the playoffs.

The Hornets, who have never lost a playoff series when they win Games 1 and 2, are 1-3 on the road in this year's playoffs. They are 1-2 all-time in Game 6s in the postseason.

The Southwest Division-champion Hornets are back in the postseason for the first time since the 2003-04 campaign. New Orleans moved to the Western Conference for the 2004-05 campaign, and are competing in the West playoffs for the first time in franchise history.

New Orleans won its first best-of-seven playoff series (1-6) in franchise history, as it defeated the seventh-seeded Dallas Mavericks in five games, 4-1, in the first round of the postseason.

The Hornets are 0-4 in the second round of the playoffs. They lost to New York (4-1) in 1993, Chicago (4-1) in 1998, Milwaukee (4-3) in 2001 and New Jersey (4-1) in 2002.

The Spurs, who swept the Cleveland Cavaliers in last year's NBA Finals, have captured four world championships (1999, 2003, 2005, 2007) in the last nine years.

History is not on San Antonio's side. Following a championship, the Spurs have never made it past the Western Conference semifinals in the playoffs. In 2000 they fell in the opening round to Phoenix, and lost in the semis to the Lakers in 2004 and Dallas in 2006.

San Antonio, which is playing in the postseason for the 11th straight year, advanced to the West semis for the eighth straight year. The Spurs knocked out Steve Nash and the sixth-seeded Phoenix Suns in five games in round one.

The Spurs have won four of their last seven trips to the West semis. They defeated the Suns, 4-2, last year in this round.

This is the first time the Hornets and Spurs have met in the playoffs.