Magic, O’Neal Bull Ahead
Shaquille O’Neal made sure the Orlando Magic didn’t squander another opportunity to close out the Atlanta Hawks.
The all-star center bounced back from a subpar performance that may have been related to chest pains, scoring 27 points and grabbing 16 rebounds Wednesday in a 96-88 victory that sends Orlando into the Eastern Conference finals against the Chicago Bulls.
The Magic eliminated the Bulls and an ineffective Michael Jordan in six games in the conference semifinals a year ago, before going on to their first appearance in the NBA Finals.
“Of course, (Chicago is) a great team and we just want to go out and play hard,” O’Neal said.
The Hawks avoided a sweep by winning Game 4 in Atlanta and stayed close for three quarters this time before fading down the stretch. Nick Anderson and Dennis Scott hit 3-pointers in a 14-3 spurt that enabled the Magic to open a late 96-83 lead.
O’Neal made 11 of 14 from the field, but missed 10 of 15 free throws.
The Magic revealed that O’Neal, who missed 10 of 17 shots from the field and 12 of 17 free throws Monday night, complained of feeling tightness in his chest at halftime of Game 4.
A team physician examined the 7-foot-1, 325-pound center before he played in the second half of the 104-99 loss, then O’Neal visited a cardiologist on Tuesday. All tests were negative.
Anfernee Hardaway had 24 points and 11 rebounds for the Magic. Grant Long led the Hawks with 24 points.
Atlanta (88) - Augmon 6-8 5-5 17, Long 10-16 2-2 24, Laettner 5-11 1-4 11, Blaylock 5-15 1-4 14, Smith 6-19 3-3 16, Ehlo 0-2 0-0 0, Rooks 0-0 2-2 2, Henderson 0-1 2-2 2, Jordan 1-2 0-0 2. Totals 33-74 16-22 88.
Orlando (96) - Grant 5-8 0-0 10, Scott 2-8 1-1 7, O’Neal 11-14 5-15 27, Anderson 7-15 0-2 16, Hardaway 9-23 4-6 24, Shaw 3-7 0-0 6, Koncak 0-0 0-0 0, Wolf 2-4 0-0 4, Bowie 1-1 0-0 2. Totals 40-80 10-24 96.
Atlanta 20 27 26 15 - 88 Orlando 22 30 25 19 - 96
3-Point goals-Atlanta 6-25 (Blaylock 3-9, Long 2-5, Smith 1-9, Ehlo 0-2), Orlando 6-20 (Hardaway 2-5, Scott 2-6, Anderson 2-8, Shaw 0-1). Fouled out-None. Rebounds- Atlanta 44 (Long 13), Orlando 57 (O’Neal 15). Assists-Atlanta 22 (Blaylock 7), Orlando 19 (O’Neal, Scott 4). Total fouls- Atlanta 19, Orlando 19. Technicals-Long, Atlanta Illegal defense, Orlando Illegal defense. Flagrant fouls-Koncak. A-17,248 (17,248).