Shaw-Shaq Redemption Orlando Uses 35 Points From O’Neal, Bench Help From Shaw To Down Pacers

Orlando Magic point guard Anfernee Hardaway guessed that Shaquille O’Neal was going to make his defender very unhappy on Wednesday night.

“I feel sorry for whoever is guarding Shaq down in the post,” Hardaway said before Game 5 at Orlando Arena. “He’s frustrated, he’s mad, and maybe a little embarrassed. But it couldn’t come at a better time - he’ll be an animal.”

So true. O’Neal, restricted by fouls the previous two games, returned with a vengeance with a game-high 35 points and 12 rebounds to lead the Magic to a 108-106 win over the Indiana Pacers to go up 3-2 in the best-of-seven Eastern Conference Finals.

“The last two games, I didn’t play that much, so I had a lot of energy,” O’Neal said. “I wanted to come out strong. I was mad. I was upset. I was looking to dominate.”

He had help from guard Brian Shaw, who led the bench scoring with a playoff-high 15 points, including three 3-pointers.

O’Neal’s big night was nearly ruined by a furious Pacers comeback that pulled them from a 14-point deficit to 106-103 with 16 seconds left. The Magic held on despite missing 8 of 12 free throws in the last 3:44.

“We made a lot of silly mistakes down the stretch,” O’Neal said. “But we kept our composure there, especially at the end.”

Mark Jackson had a chance to tie it, but missed a 3-pointer with about 7 seconds left.

To close the series in six games, Orlando will have to win Friday night at Market Square Arena, a building in which it has lost eight straight. Game 7 would be here Sunday.

Nick Anderson added 19 points for the Magic and Hardaway scored 15.

Rik Smits, whose buzzer beater made him the hero of Game 4, was the center in foul trouble this time. He fouled out with 3:44 remaining and scored 20 points. Reggie Miller and Derrick McKey led the Pacers with 21 points apiece, and Jackson had 19.

Despite Indiana’s failure to win at Orlando during the series, Jackson was confident.

“There’s no need to worry, no need to be concerned,” he said. “We’re still going to win this thing, and we’ll be back in Orlando.”

Indiana trailed 104-90 with 4:21 left but scored 10 straight points, capped by Jackson’s 3-pointer with 1:05 left. Anfernee Hardaway’s free throw with 30.9 seconds to play made it 105-100, but as the Pacers have shown throughout the playoffs, they don’t go down easy.

O’Neal, who had missed four free throws during Indiana’s spurt, grabbed the rebound of Jackson’s miss with 22.7 seconds left. After two timeouts, Hardaway went to the line but made only one, and McKey fired a 3-pointer with 16 seconds left to cut the lead to three.

Shaw blew two free throws before Jackson, hesitating behind the arc and apparently looking for Miller, missed a 3-pointer. Hardaway got the rebound, then finally hit two free throws together. Miller sank a 3-pointer at the buzzer.

“We were down 14 and had a 3-pointer to tie it, so I’m pretty proud of our team,” Pacers coach Larry Brown said. “I’m proud he (Jackson) took that shot. I don’t know what other shot we were going to get in that situation.”

Magic 108, Pacers 106

INDIANA (106)

D.Davis 0-4 0-2 0, McKey 7-16 6-6 21, Smits 9-11 2-2 20, Jackson 5-12 7-7 19, Miller 8-16 2-2 21, A.Davis 2-6 3-5 7, Workman 2-5 2-2 6, Mitchell 0-4 4-6 4, Ferrell 0-0 1-2 1, Kite 1-2 2-2 4, B.Scott 1-3 0-0 3. Totals 35-79 29-36 106 ORLANDO (108)

Grant 4-9 2-2 10, D.Scott 2-11 2-2 8, O’Neal 13-21 9-19 35, Hardaway 4-11 6-8 15, Anderson 8-11 1-1 19, Turner 0-0 0-0 0, Shaw 5-8 2-5 15, Royal 2-2 2-2 6, Bowie 0-0 0-0 0, Rollins 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 38-73 24-39 108.

Indiana 32 18 22 34 - 106 Orlando 26 32 25 25 - 108

3-Point goals-Indiana 7-13 (Miller 3-6, Jackson 2-3, McKey 1-2, B.Scott 1-2), Orlando 8-17 (Shaw 3-4, Anderson 2-3, D.Scott 2-8, Hardaway 1-2). Fouled out-Smits. Rebounds-Indiana 50 (McKey 9), Orlando 51 (O’Neal 13). Assists-Indiana 22 (Jackson 11), Orlando 19 (Hardaway 8). Total fouls-Indiana 32, Orlando 26. Flagrant fouls-Kite. A-16,010 (16,010).

ILLUSTRATION: Color photo