Bad news for the NBA: the Orlando Magic can win games without Shaquille O'Neal.
While it's not something Orlando would like to attempt on a regular basis, there was some comfort when the Magic beat Washington 128-121 Monday night with the big guy on the bench for the last six minutes with six fouls.On the other side, however, it should be noted that Orlando had to go into overtime to win against a team strapped with injuries.
Nick Anderson scored 11 points in the fourth quarter and four in overtime to finish with 35 for Orlando.
"We can win without him," Anderson said. "A lot of people don't think so, but this just shows that we can play basketball without Shaq. He means a lot to our team, but we have other guys who can step up when he's out of the game."
"When I went out (with 1:04 left in regulation), the rest of the guys seemed to pick up their game a little bit," said Shaq, who scored 22 in the first half and finished with 28. "Hardaway and Anderson just seemed to take over."
Anfernee Hardaway scored 29 points, including five in overtime, and Horace Grant grabbed 12 rebounds.
Hardaway missed a shot that would have given Orlando the victory in regulation, but no matter. He started the overtime with a three-point play, and Grant made a follow shot. Anderson's layup later in the extra period gave Orlando a 6-point lead.
Rookie Juwan Howard had a career-high 24 points and 14 rebounds for the Bullets, who have lost eight of nine and 16 of 19. The Bullets played without injured starters Chris Webber, Rex Chapman, Don MacLean and Kevin Duckworth.
"We just didn't make our shots in overtime. That's what it all boiled down to," said guard Scott Skiles, who had 20 points and nine assists. "Yes, we're a little shorthanded, but we're not going to show up and roll over for anybody. We can't be in here congratulating ourselves just because we almost won."
Cavaliers 123, Celtics 102
At Cleveland, Mark Price made seven 3-pointers, a team record, and scored 36 points as the Cavs won their ninth straight. The franchise record of 11 was set last season.
Price made seven of his nine 3-point attempts - four in the second quarter - and converted a rare 4-point play, the second of his career and sixth in team history.
Rockets 101, Heat 88
Mario Elie hit three 3-pointers and scored Houston's first 11 points of the fourth quarter at Miami.
Hakeem Olajuwon had 24 points, 12 rebounds and seven block shots and Elie finished with 19 points as Houston won its 10th straight over the Heat. Carl Herrera, filling in for injured Otis Thorpe, scored 15 points on 7-for-8 shooting, and reserve Pete Chilcutt chipped in a season-high 12 points.
Glen Rice led Miami with 20 points, but he missed eight of 11 in the first half as the Heat fell into a 48-38 hole at halftime.
Timberwolves 82, Clippers 81
At Minneapolis, Pat Durham got a chance to play when Isaiah Rider was suspended for a game, and made the most of it.
Durham, playing in the CBA a month ago, hit a 3-pointer from the top of the key to give the Timberwolves an 80-78 lead with 22 seconds left. After Los Angeles' Pooh Richardson missed a 3-pointer with 6.5 seconds left, Christian Laettner made two free throws to make it 82-78.
Rider, the Timberwolves' leading scorer with a 20.1 average, was suspended without pay for missing the team's shootaround earlier Monday.
Bucks 101, Nets 97
At Milwaukee, Vin Baker scored 11 of his 26 points in the fourth quarter and Glenn Robinson finished with 20 as the Bucks snapped a four-game losing streak.
Milwaukee led 100-90 with a minute left before New Jersey made a late run.
Jayson Williams made a free throw and Kenny Anderson hit a follow shot and a 3-pointer as the Nets challenged before falling short.
Suns 139, Mavericks 113
Kevin Johnson scored 20 points, hitting three technical free throws during a third-quarter surge, and Phoenix won its 25th straight home game.
Jim Jackson of Dallas, the NBA's No. 2 scorer, matched his average with 28 points, but the Mavericks couldn't recover after falling behind 94-70 on Johnson's conversion of the second technical on coach Dick Motta, who was ejected with 4:09 left in the third.
Jamal Mashburn had 21 points and Roy Tarpley 16 for the Mavericks.
76ers 101, Blazers 94
Clarence Weatherspoon scored 14 of his 23 points in the fourth period, and Dana Barros added 23 for Philadelphia at Portland.
Weatherspoon's 12-foot baseline jumper broke a 92-92 tie with 1:20 left in the game. Two free throws by Willie Burton with 22 seconds remaining gave the 76ers a 98-93 margin. Burton finished with 16 points.
Portland's Rod Strickland led all scorers with 26 points and Clyde Drexler added 25, but the Blazers shot only 28 percent (15-for-53) in the second half.
Sonics 123, Kings 103
Sam Perkins scored 26 points and Detlef Schrempf 21 as Seattle reversed its only homecourt loss of the season.
The Sonics, who won their 12th straight game at the Tacoma Dome, used a 20-6 run over 6:34 of the third quarter to take a 90-58 lead and cruised.
Rookie Brian Grant led the Kings with 23 points, and Olden Polynice scored 20. The Kings dropped their third straight road game.