Boston ? The Orlando Magic avoided an epic collapse when the clock ran out on the Boston Celtics’ comeback bid.

There would be no overtime this time.

Just another hole the defending NBA champions will try to escape.

Dwight Howard returned from his one-game suspension to get 16 points and 22 rebounds Monday night, and Orlando, which led by as many as 28 points in the second half, held off the late-charging Celtics, 95-90, in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals.

“The last 16 minutes was a debacle,” Magic coach Stan Van Gundy said. “We were sort of trying to run out the clock, and you can’t do that in games like this. Especially in the playoffs, teams are going to keep fighting and keep coming back.

“(But) how about the fact that we were up 28? You play these games to win, and that’s it. We won. Right now, the series is 1-0.”

Game 2 is Wednesday night in Boston.

Pierce scored 16 of his 23 points in the second half, and Rajon Rondo had 14 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists.