BOSTON — Don't forget about the Orlando Magic in the race for the top spot in the Eastern Conference.

Dwight Howard scored 18 points with 15 rebounds, making a pair of free throws with 13.9 seconds left to ice it after Boston cut a 22-point deficit to three, and the Magic held on to beat the Celtics, 86-79, yesterday. With the win, Orlando moved two games behind Boston and three behind first-place Cleveland in the East.

"It was big for (us) to see where we are for the playoffs," said Magic forward Hedo Turkoglu, who scored 16. "It's not just a team that we want to catch. It's a team that we want to beat."

Rashard Lewis scored 15 and Rafer Alston had 10 points and eight assists for Orlando, which won its fourth straight. One game after turning back Cleveland to grab the tiebreaker edge in the Eastern Conference, the Celtics offered a feeble start on their home court against third-place Orlando.

The Magic led by seven points after one and 18 after two as Boston posted its lowest-scoring first quarter (22) and half (47) of the season. The Celtics trailed by 22 points in the third quarter before waking up: they have just six losses at home this season, including three straight Sunday afternoon games over the past month.

"We pick and choose a little bit right now on our focus, and we can't do that," Celtics coach Doc Rivers said. "That's part of the championship residue. Last year, every game we thought of as a big game."

Ray Allen had 17 of his 32 points in the fourth quarter, scoring nine straight to make it 82-79 with 1:22 to play. But he hit the back of the rim on a 3-point attempt from the left side that would have tied it with 41 seconds to play.

"I knew when I got the ball I had to try and make plays," said Allen, who also tied a season-high with nine rebounds. "I knew I had to get something going."

Boston played without forward Kevin Garnett (right knee sprain) and point guard Rajon Rondo (sprained right ankle).

Jazz 109, Raptors 101: Deron Williams had 25 points and nine assists, Mehmet Okur had 19 points and 11 rebounds, and visiting Utah beat Toronto for its 11th straight win.

Kyle Korver matched a season-high with 20 points. Paul Millsap had 18 points and 11 rebounds, and Andrei Kirilenko scored 18 for the Jazz, who have won eight straight over Toronto.

Utah matched its longest winning streak since an 11-game run from April 1-18, 1999.

Spurs 103, Suns 98: Tony Parker scored 12 of his 30 points in the fourth quarter — his fourth 30-point performance in his last seven games — and host San Antonio beat Phoenix.

Parker sealed San Antonio's third win this season over the slumping Suns with a one-handed runner with 26.2 seconds left.

The Suns finished 0-4 on their road trip.

Nets 106, Knicks 101: Devin Harris had 35 points and 10 assists, and host New Jersey beat New York.

Vince Carter added 25 points for the Nets, who had lost three of four, failing to pull out tight games against New Orleans, Boston and Orlando.

David Lee had 19 points and 14 rebounds for the Knicks, who opened a five-game trip with their fifth loss in six games.

Rockets 93, Grizzlies 83: Yao Ming had 24 points, 17 rebounds and three blocks and host Houston extended its home-court winning streak to 12.

Luis Scola added 18 points and 14 rebounds for the Rockets, who got an easy victory heading into a tough week that includes games against Denver, the Los Angeles Lakers and San Antonio.

Rudy Gay scored 21 points and Marc Gasol added 18 for the Grizzlies, who've lost 10 of 11.

Thunder 89, 76ers 74: Nenad Krstic scored 20 points and Malik Rose added a season-high 14 as host Oklahoma City continued its strong play without its two leading scorers.

The Thunder surged ahead by outscoring Philadelphia 20-2 to start the second quarter, and the 76ers were never able to get within 10.

Nick Collison added 12 points and 11 rebounds for Oklahoma City, which has won four of five without Kevin Durant (ankle) and three of four without Jeff Green (back).

Kings 114, Nuggets 106: Kevin Martin had 26 points, seven rebounds and eight assists for host Sacramento.

Sacramento ran off eight straight points to start the game, led by 12 at the half and never trailed in winning its 10th home game.

Martin connected on five 3-pointers for the Kings, who tied a season high by making 14 3-pointers.