Top Seed Assured, Shaq Finally Rests

Shaquille O’Neal got a rare game off Wednesday night, two days after the Orlando Magic clinched the Atlantic Division title and the top seeding throughout the Eastern Conference playoffs.

O’Neal, who has played in 77 of the Magic’s 79 games, sat out the Washington Bullets game and rested his sore left knee.

O’Neal has averaged 31.7 points and 15.3 rebounds over his last seven games. He topped 30 points in five of the seven.

O’Neal sat out a one-game suspension on Feb. 26 for his part in an altercation with Boston’s Eric Montross and he missed a Jan. 28 game against Milwaukee with a laceration on his left foot.