Bulls Hinder O’Neal’s Magic : Pro basketball: League’s top scorer is kept in check by Chicago’s defensive pressure.

Shaquille O’Neal had a career-high nine assists for the Orlando Magic, which is about all one needs to know about the Chicago Bulls’ defense on the NBA’s leading regular-season scorer.

The Bulls double- or triple-teamed O’Neal almost every time he touched the ball in the low post Sunday, holding Shaq to 17 points--12 below his season average. The Bulls won, 106-95, to even the series at two games apiece.

“If he gets the ball one-on-one, he can take it. But he’s a team player,” Magic Coach Brian Hill said. “If it’s a double-team situation and he sees somebody open on the perimeter, he’s unselfish and he’s going to throw it out.”

Unfortunately for the Magic, he also threw it away five times. With about three minutes left, his cross-court pass was intercepted by Scottie Pippen and Will Perdue got a layup at the other end that gave Chicago a 95-89 lead.

After feeding Dennis Scott for a 20-footer that again pulled Orlando within four, O’Neal missed a short bank shot and the Bulls’ Toni Kukoc hit a three-pointer to clinch the victory.

“If Shaq makes that little bank with a minute and a half to go, we’re only down by two and we’re in good shape,” Scott said. “He’ll be fine. We’ll be fine.”

O’Neal, who averaged 20 shots during the season, was only five for 10 Sunday. He was seven of 10 from the free-throw line.

“I don’t know if you can ever neutralize him,” said Perdue, who scored 11 points in 25 minutes at center for the Bulls after starter Luc Longley injured his ankle in the first quarter. “He’s going to be like anybody--good games, bad games.”

O’Neal came into the game averaging 26.3 points in the series and 24.1 points in the playoffs after scoring 29.3 per game in the regular season.

What did O’Neal have to say about his performance?

“Happy Mother’s Day.”

Otherwise, O’Neal, like Jordan, refused to talk to reporters after the game. Orlando’s Horace Grant and Nick Anderson also blew past the press and left the United Center.