Unhappy Return For O’Neal Anderson’s 3-Pointer Gives Magic Win Over Lakers

Mon., Feb. 23, 1998

Associated Press

Nick Anderson’s 3-pointer with 7.1 seconds remaining capped a 30-point performance Sunday and gave the Orlando Magic a 96-94 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers.

The most outspoken of Orlando’s players in his criticism of Shaquille O’Neal’s decision to leave the Magic for Los Angeles in 1996, Anderson scored his team’s final six points.

A crowd of 17,238 booed virtually every time O’Neal touched the ball and cheered wildly each time he missed a shot and committed a foul en route to 20 points and 10 rebounds in 34 minutes.

It was actually O’Neal’s second trip back to the O-rena since his departure, but he did not play in the Lakers’ only appearance here last season because of an injury.

The Magic weathered a 20-2 run that enabled Los Angeles to turn an 11-point deficit into a 92-85 lead before Horace Grant stopped Orlando’s five-minute drought and Anderson finished off the Lakers.

Local journalism is essential.

Give directly to The Spokesman-Review's Northwest Passages community forums series -- which helps to offset the costs of several reporter and editor positions at the newspaper -- by using the easy options below. Gifts processed in this system are tax deductible.

Meet Our Journalists

Jesse Tinsley

Meet Jesse Tinsley. As a certified drone pilot, this veteran Spokesman-Review photographer often can be seen capturing beautiful aerial photographs of our region. Sometimes though, the job requires getting down with the dogs.
Jim Meehan

Jim Meehan is no stranger to Zag Nation. As the lead writer covering the Gonzaga men’s basketball team, he tells the stories behind the game and gets fans a bit closer to their favorite players.
Molly Quinn

There is no artist in Spokane like Molly Quinn. Her whimsical style is instantly recognizable to readers of The Spokesman-Review. She has painted gorgeous illustrations that instantly elevate the journalism accompanying it. She brings to life the stories that defy photography. She makes our pages better.
Rob Curley

Spokesman-Review editor Rob Curley loves to talk with people and learn about their lives, whether it's a best-selling author or a stranger he meets downtown on his walk to lunch. It's that inquisitive nature combined with a playful sense of storytelling that helps make our newspaper different than most.

Unhappy Return For O’Neal Anderson’s 3-Pointer Gives Magic Win Over Lakers

Jesse Tinsley

Jim Meehan

Molly Quinn

Rob Curley

Washington State’s Jon Haarlow: Cougars must commit to change

Mariners waste Logan Gilbert’s dominant outing in loss to White Sox

Kevin Fitzer homers twice, Spokane Indians down Tri-City in finale 8-3 | NWL baseball