NBA ROUNDUP : Shaq Helps Magic Improve Home Record

Defending home turf, Shaquille O’Neal insisted, was more important to him and the Orlando Magic than the personal satisfaction he got from finally beating David Robinson.

“We just wanted to come in and get a win,” O’Neal said after the Magic’s 110-104 victory over the San Antonio Spurs Sunday at Orlando, Fla., improved the Magic’s NBA-best record to 48-14, including 32-1 at Orlando Arena.

“I was 0 for five against Mr. Robinson, but I wasn’t worried about the Admiral vs. Shaq matchup,” he added. “I was just trying to keep the home streak going.”

Nevertheless, the Spurs were the only team the Magic hadn’t beaten since O’Neal entered the NBA three seasons ago. Robinson holds the statistical edge in six meetings between the All-Star centers and had 34 points and 12 rebounds to O’Neal’s 28 points and 13 rebounds in the latest matchup.

“I thought it was a great battle,” Robinson said. “You couldn’t get much more hype for a game, but it worked out. It was well-played for the most part. They made some big shots down the stretch.”

Anfernee Hardaway led the Magic with 31 points, 20 of them in the second half. Nick Anderson scored 13 of his 21 points in the fourth quarter when Orlando, playing without injured starter Horace Grant (bruised hip), pulled away from a 90-90 tie in the final 5:52.

Hardaway and Anderson carried the Magic until O’Neal, who struggled much of the fourth quarter, delivered a highlight-film dunk and two free throws in the final minute.

The victory was Orlando’s 11th in a row at home and was particularly sweet because the Magic lost to the Spurs, the NBA’s hottest team with a 34-9 record since Dec. 10, by one point at San Antonio earlier this month.

“I’m just glad to be on a good team with other superstars and role players,” said O’Neal. “They help make me, and I help make them. That’s what being on a good team is all about. Helping each other out.”

O’Neal was only 10 for 24 from the field and had been outscored 14-2 by Robinson in the fourth quarter before his big slam off an offensive rebound gave the Magic a 104-99 lead.

Robinson finished 12 of 21 and got offensive support from Sean Elliott, who had 20 points. Dennis Rodman had 11 points and 23 rebounds.

Utah 96, Miami 86--With an 18-point lead over Miami going into the final quarter, the Jazz needed some big plays by John Stockton down the stretch to win at Miami.

Stockton had two layups, two steals and a big assist to help make up for a scoring drought that lasted almost six minutes. While Utah went scoreless, the Heat closed the gap to five points.

“They made a run, but we didn’t panic,” said Stockton, who had 15 points and 12 assists. “We made a couple of stops and then we made some plays on our end and got control again.”

Karl Malone had 28 points and 10 rebounds to pace Utah, which set a club record with its 21st road victory.

Miami was paced by Glen Rice with 25 points.

Alanta 104, Boston 98--With high-scoring Stacey Augmon sidelined with a sprained ankle, Ken Norman took charge of the Hawks’ offense at Boston and led the team over the .500 mark for the first time this season.

Norman scored a season-high 34 points, including 13 in the fourth period. He made 13 of 22 shots, including five of 10 from three-point range.

“He was terrific, he kept us in the game,” Coach Lenny Wilkens of the former Clipper.

The victory pushed the Hawks record to 31-30.

Denver 109, Milwaukee 93--Rodney Rogers scored 21 points to lead a balanced attack for the Nuggets at Milwaukee.

The Nuggets, in the hunt for the eighth playoff spot in the Western Conference, won for the sixth time in seven games to improve to 29-32.

Cleveland 92, Philadelphia 72--In this victory at Philadelphia, the Cavaliers demonstrated once again why they are leading the NBA in defense. For the ninth time this year, Cleveland held an opponent under 80 points. Meanwhile, six Cavalier players scored in double figures.

NBA Notes

The Houston Rockets activated Carl Herrera off the injured list. Herrera suffered a strained left hamstring against Denver on Jan. 31.