Shaq, Magic Swat Hornets

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Shaquille O'Neal and Alonzo Mourning downplay their rookie matchup when the Orlando Magic and Charlotte Hornets meet.

But it's impossible to ignore it when the big centers square off.

O'Neal broke open a deadlocked duel with Mourning by scoring eight of his game-high 29 points and holding the Hornet rookie scoreless in the fourth quarter, leading the Magic to a 109-96 NBA victory last night.

"It's not me against Alonzo," O'Neal said. "I don't have any different attitude against him. I have the same approach to him as I do against Patrick Ewing or anybody else."

Mourning sidetracked any questions of the matchup.

"Shaq was tough, but they've got a team full of athletic guys," Mourning said. "The had a lot of guys off the bench play tough. We just couldn't get going on offense."

It was the first victory for the Magic in four games against the Hornets this season, and first win ever at Charlotte, which leads the overall series 9-3.

The win keeps Orlando 1 1/2 games out of the No. 8 playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. That spot is shared by the Hornets and the Indiana Pacers. But because Indiana is 5-0 against Charlotte this season, the Pacers would get the No. 7 seed in case of a tie.

"The goal for this team is to make the playoffs," O'Neal said. "We ran a lot of plays to get me the ball in the fourth quarter and when I got double-teamed I threw it back out."

Entering the fourth quarter, O'Neal and Mourning had 21 points each. Thanks to some superior reserve play, the Magic led 84-75.

After the Hornets closed to 84-79 early in the fourth quarter, the Magic went on a 11-0 run to pull ahead 94-79 with 7:54 left. O'Neal scored five points during the spurt.

O'Neal made 12 of 21 shots and added 10 rebounds, while Mourning was five of 12 from the field, 11 of 11 from the line, with eight rebounds. Mourning fouled out with 3:10 remaining and the Hornets trailing 103-88.

"I like the matchup when we win," Orlando Coach Matt Guokas said. "This is only the second time they have faced each other this year. But these two guys will be the story of the league for many years to come."

Charlotte Coach Allan Bristow praised O'Neal. "Shaq had a great game," he said. "It was Shaq that set the tone for it all. When they had to have the buckets, he was the one they turned to."