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.

"That was a long shot, I was a little surprised," Magic coach Stan Van Gundy said. "I was trying to get Dwight's attention to come and help on the last play because I was sure they were just going to put their head down and drive it to the basket. I was surprised. He pulled up from deep too."

"It's unfortunate that we lost, but it's time to prepare for the next game," Garnett said. "We are a team that is going to fight. We are not perfect. We didn't think we were going to go 82-0."

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.

"The biggest thing for our team was that last year when a team made a run, we would kind of fold," Howard said. "This year, we're trying to stick to our game plan and when teams make their run, (we) just calm down, don't point fingers, and stay focused."

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.