Closing in on Hakeem
Shaquille O’Neal has proven over the past two games that he can still be a dominant force in the NBA. All that’s left is persuading his children he’s still a star.
O’Neal scored 29 points to move within five of catching Hakeem Olajuwon for seventh place on the NBA’s all-time scoring list, and the Phoenix Suns beat the Washington Wizards 103-87 on Monday night.
“That’s my idol,” O’Neal said of Olajuwon. “For me as a young, former juvenile delinquent who can’t shoot free throws, who can’t shoot jumpers, it’s a pretty big accomplishment. When it’s all said and done for me, I would like to have more than four (rings) and I’d like to be in that top five in scoring, rebounding and blocks. As a dad, right now my kids don’t even talk about me. They talk about Kobe and LeBron, and I could say, ‘Look at what your daddy did.”’
O’Neal finished 10-for-14 from the field and 9-for-10 from the free throw line for the Suns, who salvaged their East Coast trip by winning the last two games to finish 3-3. O’Neal had 19 points and 11 rebounds in 39 minutes in Sunday night’s 104-99 victory over Atlanta.
,” Wizards co-captain Antawn Jamison said. “We didn’t take the challenge that we preached before the game. Shaq senses that he’s going to take advantage of that, and he sensed that tonight. He was more dominant, more physical, he could have pretty much what he wanted, took his time. He had fun tonight.”
In other NBA games Monday, it was: Miami 95, Atlanta 79; New York 104, Houston 98; Minnesota 90, Milwaukee 83; Oklahoma City 94, New Jersey 85; New Orleans 101, Philadelphia 86; and Portland 113, L.A. Clippers 88.
In Washington, the Suns outscored the Wizards by 24 points when O’Neal was in the game. He went 4-for-4 from the field in the fourth quarter, when Phoenix shot 68 percent and outscored Washington 28-14.
“I feel like I can play three or four more years,” O’Neal said. “I’ve got a new medical staff that does stuff that I haven’t really had before. I’m moving left, I’m moving right, I’m running, I’m jumping, I’m dunking, I’m getting up and hanging on the rim and getting techs, and I haven’t felt this good in about two years.”
Amare Stoudemire added 22 points and 15 rebounds, Leandro Barbosa scored 23 points, and Steve Nash had 14 points and 15 assists for the Suns, who overcame 17 turnovers with a 53-38 rebounding edge.
s on 17-for-41 shooting.
“I can’t ask the two forwards to do more than they do,” Wizards interim coach Ed Tapscott said. “In the fourth quarter, they all load up against them. Somebody else has got to drive the ball to the basket.”
Heat 95, Hawks 79
At Miami, Dwyane Wade scored 35 points and the Heat held the Hawks without a field goal for nearly 13 1/2 minutes during one first-half stretch.
Atlanta set a franchise-futility record with its 27-point first half.
Daequan Cook added 16 points for Miami (24-19), which moved a season-best five games over .500.
Knicks 104, Rockets 98
At New York, Nate Robinson scored 19 points and Wilson Chandler added 18 points to lead the Knicks to their first win over Houston since 2004.
David Lee had 17 points and 13 rebounds for New York, which had lost eight straight to the Rockets, who played without center Yao Ming (right knee) for the second straight game.
Tracy McGrady led Houston with 20 points.
Hornets 101, 76ers 86
At New Orleans, Chris Paul had 27 points, 15 assists, 10 rebounds and seven steals for his fifth triple-double of the season.
Peja Stojakovic highlighted a 26-point performance with six 3-pointers for New Orleans, which was badly outscored inside but made up for it with 14 3s.
Thaddeus Young had 22 points and Andre Miller 19 for the Sixers.
Timberwolves 90, Bucks 83
At Milwaukee, Al Jefferson had 23 points and 10 rebounds and Ryan Gomes added 22 points, lifting Minnesota over the Bucks, who were playing without Michael Redd for the first time since he sustained a season-ending knee injury.
Ramon Sessions had 18 points for Milwaukee.
Redd, averaging a team-high 21.2 points, tore the anterior cruciate ligament and medial collateral ligament in his left knee in Saturday’s win against Sacramento.
Thunder 94, Nets 85
At Oklahoma City, Kevin Durant scored nine of his 18 points in the third quarter, when the Thunder outscored the Nets 31-14 on the way to a victory in front of just 5,000 fans.
Icy weather held the Ford Center well below the 18,000-plus who had attended the first 23 home games.
Brook Lopez scored 18 for the Nets. Vince Carter, averaging 21.6 points per game, had just 8 on 2-of-12 shooting.
Trail Blazers 113, Clippers 88
At Los Angeles, Brandon Roy scored 33 points on 11-of-15 shooting to lead Portland over the Clippers.
Travis Outlaw scored 16 of his 20 points in the fourth quarter. Greg Oden went 7-of-7 from the floor and 2-of-4 from the line for 16 points to go with six rebounds.
Al Thornton scored 23 for Los Angeles, which lost for the 16th time in 18 games.
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Posted: 1/28/09 12:30AM ET