BOSTON,  (Reuters) – The Orlando Magic beat the  Boston Celtics 96-92 in an overtime thriller on Monday to stay alive in their Eastern Conference playoff series.

Facing elimination, the Magic got better leadership from  centre Dwight Howard, who top scored with 32 points and notched  16 rebounds to help neutralise Boston’s tight defence.

“We were very aggressive from the start,” Howard told  reporters. “We needed to run the ball and not let them get  their defence set.”

Guard Jameer Nelson added 23 points for Orlando, and helped  lock up victory with a pair of three-pointers in overtime.

“His play throughout the game was the reason we got a  chance to win,” Howard said of his team mate. “And from then  on, it was all about confidence. He has to have confidence in  himself. He did tonight.”

Orlando let slip a 10-point lead midway through the second  quarter, setting up a raucous final period with frequent lead  changes that saw the score tied at 86-86 at the end of  regulation.

“In the second half, in overtime, we didn’t play well. But  we did keep fighting and fighting and fighting,” said Orlando  coach Stan Van Gundy.
POOR

EXECUTION
Paul Pierce top scored for Boston with 32 points, equaling  his season playoff high, and had 11 rebounds. But the veteran  forward missed two rushed shots in the final minute.

Guard Ray Allen kept the Celtics close with a pair of  three-pointers in overtime on his way to a 22-point game.

Monday’s loss snapped a six-game winning streak for Boston.

“I thought we executed poorly throughout the game. We  didn’t make the next rotations, we didn’t make the next pass,”  said Celtics coach Doc Rivers. “It was amazing how bad we were  execution-wise and still had a chance to win that game.”

The series shifts back to Orlando’s home court today, with the Celtics leading 3-1 and still needing just  one more win to advance.

“Definitely there’s no need to panic,” said Boston’s Allen.  “We like the position we’re in, but it’s always a lesson in  humility.”