Boston ? After the Celtics had a sluggish first half, Ricky Davis decided to take over.

Davis scored 17 of his 32 points in the third quarter to help Boston beat the New Orleans Hornets, 91-78, on Monday night.

“We said at halftime we’re going to pick it up in the second half, and that’s what we did,” Boston forward Paul Pierce said.

Neither team played well in the opening half, missing a number of easy shots and turning the ball over carelessly.

But in the third quarter, the Celtics started hitting their shots and took control.

“I think both teams settled into ‘this isn’t our night mode,'” Boston coach Doc Rivers said. “The home team has to win those games, and that’s what we did.”

Boston FORWARD Raef LaFrentz dunks over New Orleans forward P.J. Brown. LaFrentz scored 18 points on 7-of-8 shooting, helping the Celtics beat the Hornets, 91-78, Monday in Boston.

The Hornets shot only 36 percent (27-for-76) and lost for just the second time in seven games.

“I just thought we were terrible,” New Orleans coach Byron Scott said. “Offensively, defensively, effort-wise. I just didn’t think we came out with any passion tonight, for whatever reason.”

Raef LaFrentz added 18 points on 7-of-8 shooting, including three three-pointers in a 2:56 span. Pierce had 16 points and nine rebounds for the Celtics, who have won six of their last eight home games.