NEW ORLEANS (AP) – Jamaal Magloire’s 23 points and 17 rebounds and George Lynch’s defense led New Orleans to an 89-80 victory Friday night, giving the Hornets a four-game season sweep of the Boston Celtics.

The Hornets got 15 points from Lynch, starting because he defended Paul Pierce well in New Orleans’ other victories over Boston. Lynch had three second-half 3-pointers and helped hold Pierce to relatively low 5-of-16 shooting.

Lynch’s third 3 capped a 7-0 run that gave New Orleans an 80-68 lead with just over three minutes remaining.

David Wesley, playing with pain in his big left toe that kept him out of practice Thursday, scored 19 points for the Hornets, who snapped a two-game losing streak. New Orleans remained a game behind Miami for the fifth seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs. Miami also won, eliminating Cleveland from playoff contention.

Boston, meanwhile, inched closer to clinching despite the loss because its closest pursuer, Philadelphia, lost to Washington. Boston now needs only one victory or a Philadelphia loss to make the playoffs.

Reserve Ricky Davis led the Celtics with 23 points. Some of his baskets were highlight-reel worthy, but he had a few lapses as well. He elected to dunk in the final seconds of the third quarter, and the basket ended up being waved off for coming a split second late.

And with Boston down 69-64 about midway through the final period, Davis soared for an offensive rebound but missed a dunk when he tried to slam it down with one hand. The Celtics got the rebound, and Davis took a 3 that missed.

On the Celtics’ next trip, a fast break, Davis missed a reverse layup and complained that he was fouled.

Pierce, playing with a sore right ankle, finished with 16 points, while Mark Blount had 10 points and 10 rebounds.

But the Celtics as a whole had trouble shooting, finishing at 32 percent, including 7-of-27 from 3-point range. The Hornets shot 40 percent and outrebounded Boston 55-46.

New Orleans led by as many as nine points in the first half as Magloire got off to a strong start. He had six dunks in the half and converted two of his baskets into three-point plays when he was fouled.

Lynch held Pierce to only 1-of-7 shooting for two points through nearly the entire first half.

But Davis came on to keep Boston close with shots ranging from a 3-pointer to a two-handed alley-oop jam.

On the latter basket he jumped so far above the rim to catch Atkins’ seemingly overthrown pass he caused even the hostile crowd to ooh and ah in amazement.

The basket also trimmed the Hornets’ lead to 35-33. In the last minute of the second quarter, Pierce hit two more shots, the second a 14-foot fade in the lane, giving Boston a 43-41 lead at halftime.

Notes: Hornets coach Tim Floyd does not expect reserve shooting guard Courtney Alexander – rehabilitating his right Achilles’ tendon from a preseason tear – back for the playoffs. “I think as far as we’re concerned we’re ruling that out,” Floyd said. Alexander returned to New Orleans several weeks ago to work out and said he wants to return this season. But Floyd said he doubted that was realistic “given the severity of the injury. … All I’ve seen him do is jog.” … The Hornets (39-40) need to win two of their last three games to avoid their first losing season in 11 years.

AP-ES-04-09-04 2316EDT