Hornets remain alive in playoffs

Jeremy Lin scored 18 points to lead a balanced Charlotte attack on Saturday as the Hornets beat the Miami Heat 96-80 for their first NBA playoff victory in 14 years.

After two deflating defeats in Miami, the Hornets fed off their home crowd to trim the deficit in the best-of-seven Eastern Conference first-round series to 2-1.

In the late game Saturday, Damian Lillard scored a game high 32 points as the Portland Trail Blazers beat Los Angeles 96-88 to cut the Clippers lead in the series to 2-1.

The Hornets led by five points at halftime, and held the Heat scoreless for almost seven minutes in an 18-0 scoring run in the third quarter that built their lead to 71-53.

The cushion grew to as many as 24 points in the fourth quarter as six Charlotte players finished in double figures.

It was a complete reversal from the Heat’s 106-80 home win in game one and a 115-103 win in game two.

Kemba Walker contributed 17 points and rookie Frank Kaminsky, part of yet another new starting lineup from coach Steve Clifford, added 15.

Marvin Williams notched a double-double of 12 points and 14 rebounds, and the Hornets set a club post-season record for fewest turnovers with four.

The Heat, who combined to shoot 57.8 percent in winning two games in Miami, hit 10 of their first 15 shots but then struggled to find the basket.

They missed nine straight attempts during Charlotte’s 18-0 run, connecting on 34.2 per cent from the field for the game.

Luo Deng led the Heat with 19 points. Dwayne Wade scored 17 and Hassan Whiteside added 13 points and 18 rebounds for the Heat, who will try to rebound on the road in Game Four on Monday.

The Michael Jordan-owned Hornets, meanwhile, will be trying to build on the momentum of their first post-season win since 2001-02.