NBA PLAYOFFS : Led by Curry’s 27, Hornets Push Celtics to the Brink

CHARLOTTE, N.C. —  Dell Curry, one of two remaining original members of the Hornets, scored 27 points to lead Charlotte to a 119-89 victory Monday night over the Boston Celtics in the Hornets’ first home playoff game.

Larry Johnson added 29 points, making 10 of 13 shots, and grabbed 11 rebounds as the Hornets took a 2-1 lead in the best-of-five series.

Boston was playing its first game after learning that leading scorer Reggie Lewis’ career is probably over after doctors discovered cardiac abnormalities during a weekend examination.

Without his outside shooting, the Celtics went five minutes without a basket in the second quarter, allowing Charlotte to take a commanding lead.

“We definitely can’t make any excuses,” Boston center Robert Parish said. “And we’re not making any.”

Curry scored 14 of his 27 points in the second quarter, a vast improvement from his performances in the two games at Boston, where he scored a combined 15 points.

“That was the old Dell Curry,” said teammate Muggsy Bogues, who with Curry was among the original Hornets when the team was formed five years ago. “He was unconscious tonight.”

Game 4 will be played in Charlotte on Wednesday night.

The Hornets used a 15-0 outburst in the middle of the second quarter to break open a close game and take a 59-44 lead.