Shaq’s Layup Nips Rockets In Rematch

NBA

Shaquille O’Neal’s layup with 4.7 seconds left after snaring a rebound lifted visiting Orlando to a 97-96 victory over Houston Sunday in a rematch of the teams that made last season’s NBA Finals.

O’Neal finished with 29 points and 16 rebounds.

Magic 97, Rockets 96

Orlando (97) - Scott 3-12 2-2 9, Wolf 3-3 0-0 6, O’Neal 13-24 3-7 29, Anderson 3-10 0-0 7, Hardaway 10-17 5-6 28, Turner 2-4 0-0 5, Vaughn 0-1 0-0 0, Shaw 5-9 0-0 11, Bowie 1-2 0-0 2. Totals 40-82 10-15 97.

Houston (96) - Horry 2-8 5-6 10, Brown 3-5 1-2 7, Olajuwon 13-28 4-6 30, Drexler 6-13 8-9 20, Smith 0-5 1-2 1, Cassell 5-15 2-3 14, Bryant 7-10 0-0 14, Chilcutt 0-0 0-0 0, Breaux 0-0 0-0 0, Recasner 0-1 0-0 0, Jones 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 36-85 21-28 96.

Orlando 23 27 22 25 - 97

Houston 22 23 24 27 - 96

3-Point goals-Orlando 7-22 (Hardaway 3-5, Turner 1-3, Shaw 1-4, Scott 1-5, Anderson 1-5), Houston 3-22 (Cassell 2-7, Horry 1-6, Recasner 0-1, Smith 0-2, Drexler 0-6). Fouled out-Wolf. Rebounds-Orlando 50 (O’Neal 16), Houston 53 (Olajuwon 11). Assists-Orlando 26 (Hardaway 13), Houston 23 (Horry 10). Total fouls-Orlando 21, Houston 15. Technicals-Hardaway. A-16,285 (16,611).

Bulls 111, Pistons 96

Auburn Hills, Mich.

Chicago extended two streaks, winning its 11th straight game and beating Detroit for the 13th time in a row.

Michael Jordan scored 36 points and Scottie Pippen added 22 as the Bulls rolled over the Pistons.

Chicago (111) - Pippen 8-16 2-2 22, Rodman 0-1 2-4 2, Longley 4-5 3-3 11, Jordan 12-23 9-11 36, Harper 4-6 1-1 11, Kukoc 5-8 0-0 13, Kerr 4-7 0-0 10, Buechler 0-1 0-0 0, Wennington 1-3 0-0 2, Simpkins 1-3 0-0 2, Caffey 1-3 0-0 2, Brown 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 40-76 17-21 111.

Detroit (96) - Hill 10-18 4-7 24, Thorpe 8-17 3-5 19, Reid 4-5 1-2 9, Hunter 3-7 0-0 9, Houston 6-19 6-7 19, West 0-1 0-0 0, Dumars 2-6 0-0 4, Mills 1-2 0-0 2, Ratliff 4-5 0-1 8, Macon 1-2 0-0 2. Totals 39-82 14-22 96.

Chicago 31 23 31 26 - 111

Detroit 24 15 26 31 - 96

3-Point goals-Chicago 14-22 (Pippen 4-6, Kukoc 3-4, Jordan 3-5, Kerr 2-2, Harper 2-4, Buechler 0-1), Detroit 4-13 (Hunter 3-5, Houston 1-4, Mills 0-1, Dumars 0-3). Fouled out- None. Rebounds-Chicago 43 (Rodman 9), Detroit 48 (Hill, Thorpe 9). Assists-Chicago 24 (Pippen 6), Detroit 22 (Hill, Hunter 6). Total fouls-Chicago 20, Detroit 17. A-21,454 (21,454).

Suns 111, Kings 97

Phoenix

Charles Barkley scored 22 points and Kevin Johnson added 16 after returning from injuries and breathed life into Phoenix in the victory over Sacramento.

Sacramento (97) - Williams 2-7 0-1 4, Grant 3-9 3-3 9, Polynice 1-4 2-2 4, Richmond 7-13 4-6 21, Edney 4-11 2-2 12, Houston 2-3 0-0 4, Corbin 3-7 5-6 11, Hurley 2-5 5-6 10, Marciulionis 3-7 2-4 9, Simmons 0-3 1-2 1, Causwell 1-1 0-2 2, Williamson 5-6 0-0 10. Totals 33-76 24-34 97.

Phoenix (111) - Finley 6-14 6-8 18, Barkley 6-13 10-15 22, Green 6-11 6-8 18, Person 4-6 0-0 9, Johnson 5-9 6-7 16, Perry 2-6 1-1 5, Wood 0-1 0-0 0, Tisdale 3-7 6-6 12, Carr 4-8 3-4 11, Kleine 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 36-76 38-49 111.

Sacramento 19 30 22 26 - 97

Phoenix 30 30 26 25 - 111

3-Point goals-Sacramento 7-19 (Richmond 3-5, Edney 2-3, Hurley 1-3, Marciulionis 1-3, Simmons 0-2, Williams 0-3), Phoenix 1-1 (Person 1-1). Fouled out-None. Rebounds- Sacramento 46 (Polynice 10), Phoenix 58 (Barkley 13). Assists-Sacramento 28 (Edney 7), Phoenix 26 (Johnson 10). Total fouls-Sacramento 31, Phoenix 28. Technicals- Sacramento illegal defense 2, Phoenix illegal defense. A-19,023 (19,023).

Trail Blazers 88, Cavaliers 81

Portland

James Robinson, starting in place of injured Rod Strickland, scored 11 of his season-high 22 points in the fourth quarter as shorthanded Portland rallied to beat road-weary Cleveland.

Cleveland (81) - Mills 3-9 1-2 7, Ferry 12-20 2-2 29, Cage 2-3 0-0 4, Phills 3-11 1-2 8, Brandon 8-19 6-7 26, Majerle 0-6 0-0 0, Lang 1-1 2-2 4, Sura 1-2 0-0 3. Totals 30-71 12-15 81.

Portland (88) - Grant 5-10 1-2 11, Williams 7-14 3-4 17, Dudley 0-2 0-2 0, McKie 7-18 6-6 21, J.Robinson 8-18 3-4 22, R.Robinson 0-2 2-4 2, Trent 0-3 0-0 0, Wingfield 0-0 0-0, Sabonis 6-7 3-3 15. Totals 33-74 18-25 88.

Cleveland 26 18 17 20 - 81

Portland 17 21 17 33 - 88

3-Point goals-Cleveland 9-24 (Brandon 4-7, Ferry 3-10, Sura 1-1, Phills 1-4, Majerle 0-2), Portland 4-14 (J.Robinson 3-7, McKie 1-4, R.Robinson 0-1, Grant 0-2). Fouled out-None. Rebounds-Cleveland 37 (Mills 8), Portland 55 (Dudley 11). Assists-Cleveland 17 (Brandon 7), Portland 20 (J.Robinson 6). Total fouls-Cleveland 18, Portland 15. A-20,480 (21,401).

Pacers 106, Bullets 96

Indianapolis

Rik Smits scored 24 points and Reggie Miller added 23 as Indiana withstood a pair of second-half comebacks and beat Washington for its NBA franchise-record 12th straight home victory.

Washington (96) - Howard 7-15 5-6 19, Webber 9-17 4-6 23, Muresan 6-13 4-5 16, B.Price 2-7 3-3 9, Butler 1-4 0-0 2, Legler 5-8 0-0 12, M.Price 3-9 1-1 9, Wallace 2-7 2-2 6, McIlvaine 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 35-82 19-23 96.

Indiana (106) - McKey 5-7 5-5 15, D.Davis 5-6 0-2 10, Smits 9-23 6-7 24, Miller 10-17 3-4 23, Jackson 4-6 0-0 9, Pierce 2-3 2-2 6, A.Davis 3-5 4-6 10, Workman 0-1 0-0 0, Ferrell 4-6 1-1 9. Totals 42-74 21-27 106.

Washington 29 22 24 21 - 96

Indiana 34 29 21 22 - 106

3-Point goals-Washington 7-22 (Legler 2-4, B.Price 2-5, M.Price 2-7, Webber 1-4, Butler 0-1, Wallace 0-1), Indiana 1-3 (Jackson 1-1, Miller 0-1, Workman 0-1). Fouled out-Muresan. Rebounds-Washington 44 (Webber 11), Indiana 45 (Jackson, A.Davis 7). Assists-Washington 20 (Webber 9), Indiana 23 (Jackson 11). Total fouls-Washington 26, Indiana 26. Technicals-Miller, D.Davis, Washington illegal defense. A-16,718 (16,530).

Raptors 97, Celtics 95

Toronto

Rookie sensation Damon Stoudamire scored Toronto’s final eight points, including a baseline jumper with 11.8 seconds remaining, lifting the Raptors to the victory over Boston.

Boston (95) - Fox 8-17 4-5 20, Radja 7-14 3-4 17, Montross 5-8 0-2 10, Day 5-15 2-3 12, Wesley 2-8 0-0 5, Ellison 2-3 1-2 5, Minor 0-1 0-0 0, Barros 4-10 3-3 12, Burrough 1-2 2-3 4, Brown 4-10 0-0 10, Lister 0-3 0-0 0. Totals 38-91 15-22 95.

Toronto (97) - Anderson 4-10 1-2 10, Massenburg 7-13 2-2 16, Tabak 5-10 2-3 12, Robertson 8-13 2-2 18, Stoudamire 9-27 4-4 23, Murray 5-9 0-0 12, Earl 1-2 0-0 2, Pinckney 0-0 0-0 0, Rogers 2-5 0-0 4. Totals 41-89 11-13 97.

Boston 18 26 32 19 - 95

Toronto 30 15 26 26 - 97

3-Point goals-Boston 4-20 (Brown 2-6, Wesley 1-5, Barros 1-5, Day 0-4), Toronto 4-8 (Murray 2-4, Anderson 1-2, Stoudamire 1-2). Fouled out-None. Rebounds-Boston 57 (Radja 14), Toronto 53 (Massenburg 14). Assists-Boston 17 (Fox 8), Toronto 19 (Stoudamire 9). Total fouls-Boston 17, Toronto 21. A-24,334 (34,215).

Spurs 118, 76ers 88

Philadelphia

David Robinson scored 23 points and Brad Lohaus added 18 as San Antonio snapped its two-game losing streak with the rout of Philadelphia.

San Antonio (118) - Elliott 4-10 2-2 13, Perdue 1-4 0-0 2, Robinson 10-12 3-5 23, Del Negro 7-9 0-0 14, Johnson 4-8 0-0 8, Lohaus 7-15 0-0 18, Person 5-9 3-4 14, Rivers 0-0 0-0 0, Alexander 5-8 0-0 14, Herrera 2-3 0-1 4, Demps 2-7 0-0 4, Anderson 2-4 0-0 4. Totals 49-89 8-12 118.

Philadelphia (88) - Alston 1-9 1-4 3, Weatherspoon 7-13 3-3 17, Wright 0-1 0-0 0, Stackhouse 7-19 3-5 20, Ruffin 1-6 0-0 3, Thompson 2-3 0-0 4, Maxwell 5-16 3-4 14, Sutton 1-4 0-0 3, Higgins 4-14 2-2 11, Walters 2-5 1-2 7, Dumas 2-5 2-2 6. Totals 32-95 15-22 88.

San Antonio 34 29 28 27 - 118

Philadelphia 16 25 22 25 - 88

3-Point goals-San Antonio 12-21 (Alexander 4-5, Lohaus 4-9, Elliott 3-3, Person 1-3, Demps 0-1), Philadelphia 9-24 (Stackhouse 3-4, Walters 2-4, Ruffin 1-1, Sutton 1-3, Maxwell 1-6, Higgins 1-6). Fouled out-None. Rebounds-San Antonio 56 (Robinson 8), Philadelphia 58 (Weatherspoon 15). Assists- San Antonio 37 (Johnson 12), Philadelphia 20 (Ruffin 7). Total fouls-San Antonio 20, Philadelphia 14. A-13,311 (18,168).