Orlando, FL (Best E Casino) - Dwight Howard scored 24 points and grabbed six rebounds as Orlando staved off a furious second-half rally by Boston to record a 104-102 victory, sending the Celtics to their first loss of the season.

Rashard Lewis added 22 points for the Magic, who are off to their best start (9-2) since 1998-99 when they began that campaign with nine wins in their first 11 contests.

Jameer Nelson contributed 18 points and dished out six assists, while Hedo Turkoglu had 16 points, including a pair of crucial fourth-quarter three- pointers.

Paul Pierce registered a game-high 28 points for the Celtics, who dropped their first game of the season after eight consecutive wins. Pierce had a chance to give Boston the win, but missed a three-pointer at the end. Ray Allen scored 19 points, Rajon Rondo had 18, and Kevin Garnett clocked in with 14 points and a game-best 11 rebounds before fouling out.

Lewis made both of his free throws at the 15-second mark for a 103-99 lead, and after a timeout, Pierce drove the lane but could not get off a shot before the ball went out of bounds.

Off the inbound following a timeout, Allen hit a three from the left side with 7.7 seconds to go for a one-point game, but Lewis was promptly fouled. He missed the first then sank the second to make it 104-102.

With the ball at midcourt, Brian Scalabrine rolled a pass to Rondo, who passed to Pierce behind the arc. His long, off-balance three bounced off the back of the rim, and Howard grabbed the rebound to run off the remaining seconds.

After holding a 17-point edge halfway through the contest, Lewis hit a running jumper 1:52 into the third quarter and the Magic ran its advantage to 65-45.

The Celtics finally showed flashes of their early-season form, ripping off a 26-12 run to close within six, 77-71, with 2:23 remaining on Pierce's jumper. However, Boston entered the final 12 minutes trailing by seven.

The visitors continued to chip away at their deficit, opening the fourth quarter at a 12-4 clip, and James Posey's three with 6:03 left in regulation gave the Celtics their first lead of the game, 88-87.

Orlando struck back with six straight points, capped by Turkoglu's three- pointer from the left side with 4:51 remaining. The Turkish sharp-shooter nailed another three from the right side for a 98-92 game with 3:13 on the clock.

Allen responded with a three of his own to cut Orlando's edge to 99-97 with 2:14 left, then Nelson and Allen traded turns making two shots from the line, leading to the big finish.

Orlando began the game on a 9-2 run capped by a Keith Bogans three from the corner a little more than three minutes in. The lead became 17-7 on Nelson's layup with five minutes remaining, and after a brief run by Boston to come within six, the Magic ended the quarter on a 9-4 burst to lead by 11.

In the second quarter, the Celtics were unable to cut their deficit to less than nine points, and the Magic opened up a 19-point edge on Nelson's driving layup from the right side with 1:11 to play in the half. Rondo's jumper on the Celts' next trip down the floor made it 58-41, a margin which stood at the break.

Game Notes

Orlando has won seven of the last nine meetings since the start of the 2005-2006 season...Pierce scored 15 of his 28 in the third quarter, and Rondo added 14 of his 18 in the second period...Boston failed in its quest to open a season with nine straight wins since beginning the 1972-73 season at 10-0...Both teams shot well from the field, with Boston making 40-of-75 field goals for 53 percent, and Orlando hitting 33-of-65 for 51 percent.