Often a villain in past years when visiting Arco Arena with the Los Angeles Lakers, aging Shaquille O’Neal played that role once again Friday night for the Phoenix Suns. Looking like the Shaq of old, O’Neal tied a season high with 29 points and had 13 rebounds and six assists to help the short-handed Suns beat the Sacramento Kings 97-95 in overtime.
When Jason Terry’s shot bounced out and time expired during a scramble for the rebound, Jameer Nelson jumped on Dwight Howard’s back and rode off. There was a lot to celebrate — the Orlando Magic’s first victory in Dallas since 1997, and a win they probably had no business pulling off. The Magic were down by as many as 15 and by 11 early in the fourth quarter.
With injuries zapping any offense San Antionio is accustomed to generating, the Spurs have fallen back on what they do best. Play defense. Tim Duncan scored 22 points, but his defense helped the Spurs avoid another loss in their injury-plagued early season. Duncan blocked Aaron Brooks’ layup with a second left in the Spurs’ 77-75 victory over the Houston Rockets on Friday night.
Since his trade to the Denver Nuggets, Chauncey Billups has done something customary for him. Win. The Nuggets are 4-1 since Billups’ arrived after a Nov. 3 trade with the Pistons. And on Friday night, the Nuggets added a statement game to their resume, beating the defending NBA champion Boston Celtics 94-85.