 Shaq scores on a dunk against the Magic. Catherine Steenkeste NBAE/Getty Images 56k | 300k |
In a futile attempt to match up with O'Neal, Orlando started rookie Steven Hunter at center. Despite playing with a sore foot, O'Neal greeted Hunter with a dunk and a layup in the game's first two minutes.
"I like to pace myself," O'Neal said. "I'm about 85 percent. I'm still kind of sore and I've never gone to the doctors (for his feet). It's just something I have to deal with."
The Magic also tried using Patrick Ewing against O'Neal with little success. O'Neal made 11-of-21 shots for 23 points in the first half.
A 3-pointer by Robert Horry with 4:13 left before halftime gave Los Angeles the lead for good at 51-49. O'Neal dunked over Ewing with 39 seconds to go as the Lakers took a 59-53 halftime lead. After that slam, O'Neal celebrated by playfully bobbing his head up and down while running back on defense.
"We like it because they don't really have anyone that can compete with Shaq for 48 minutes, which is the case with both of our championship tams," Lakers forward Rick Fox said. "Teams don't have enough bodies to send his way for 48 minutes, so they'll eventually be in a hole."
Kobe Bryant scored 28 points for Los Angeles (6-0), one of two unbeaten teams with Minnesota. Bryant was hit in the nose just 4:04 into the game and was forced to exit but returned with gauze stuffed in his nostril.
"If I sat here in the locker room and thought about my nose, it would hurt a lot more," Bryant said. "Instead I just got back up, went back there started playing and I forgot about it."
O'Neal helped anchor a strong defensive performance for Los Angeles with four blocks. The Lakers limited the Magic to 34 percent (29-of-85) shooting.
"It was an interesting night," Los Angeles coach Phil Jackson said. "We had a fair assessment on the game with Kobe going out early and Shaq carrying the load for usd in the first half. We had a one-man unit in the first half, but we got it going there."
Tracy McGrady led Orlando with 22 points and Grant Hill added 21, 13 rebounds and nine assists. Darrell Armstrong finished with 14 points and five assists.
"It's a good measuring stick for us," Hill said. "To see exactly where we are, what we can do and what we can't do. I thought there were some things that we can learn from tonight that we did, both good and bad."
McGrady was guarded by Devean George and made just 7-of-18 shots and did not have an assist.
"This is a game that Devean George was really valuable for us, playing out there," Jackson said. "He has good defensive prowess and he's angular."
Los Angeles grabbed a season-high 55 rebounds in comparison to 46 for the Magic. O'Neal had seven of the Lakers' 17 offensive rebounds.
"I think there were some times where we were watching them instead of playing and I think that's where that swagger comes in -- that championship swagger," Orlando coach Doc Rivers said. "You win two in a row and you always believe you're going to win."
Los Angeles has won 14 straight games in the regular season dating back to a 79-78 loss to New York on April 1.