Division Title a Bore for Orlando

The celebration didn’t last long because there wasn’t one.

The Orlando Magic claimed its second consecutive Atlantic Division title Sunday but didn’t revel in the 98-79 victory over the New York Knicks at Orlando behind Shaquille O’Neal’s 32 points.

“It’s not pyrotechnics, champagne and streamers and all that, but personally I think we’re beyond that,” Coach Brian Hill said.

O’Neal was more direct.

“I’m glad we clinched, but it’s just a little step in what we’re trying to accomplish. There’s no room for celebration,” he said. “They wanted to give us shirts. We don’t want no stinking shirt.”

Horace Grant scored 23 points and Anfernee Hardaway 20 for the Magic. O’Neal went 11 for 21 from the field and 10 for 13 from the foul line to win his matchup with New York’s Patrick Ewing, who had 30 points and 11 rebounds.

Charlotte 121, Vancouver 88--The Hornets salvaged the last stop of a five-game trip and sent the Grizzlies to their 22nd consecutive defeat.

Charlotte, which snapped a two-game losing streak, finished 3-2 on its trip and moved within one game of Miami in the race for the eighth and final playoff spot in the East.

Vancouver moved within two losses of the longest losing streak in NBA history--24 by Cleveland over the 1981-82 and 82-83 seasons.

San Antonio 97, Phoenix 83--Another streaking team is going the right way, as the Spurs won their 17th consecutive game and became the second team in NBA history to go 16-0 in a month, matching the 1971-72 Lakers. David Robinson scored 22 points at San Antonio.

Indiana 118, New Jersey 100--Antonio Davis made the most of his first start since Feb. 29 by scoring all 21 of his points in the first half, helping the Pacers defeat the Nets at Indianapolis.

The Pacers shot 82% in the first quarter and never trailed as Larry Brown became the franchise’s winningest coach.

Derrick McKey scored 17 points for Indiana, which extended its lead over the Knicks to two games in their race for the third playoff spot in the East.

Atlanta 93, Boston 92--Mookie Blaylock made two three-point shots in the last 26.6 seconds, including the game-winner from the top of the key at the buzzer, giving the Hawks the victory at Boston.

The Hawks trailed, 90-85, with 52 seconds left when Todd Day scored on a jumper. After Blaylock’s first three-point basket and two free throws by Boston’s David Wesley, Dee Brown missed a layup with 2.6 seconds left as the 24-second clock ran out.

Sacramento 105, Cleveland 100--Brian Grant scored a career-high 32 points and Mitch Richmond had 30 as the Kings defeated the Cavaliers at Sacramento.

Sacramento increased its lead over Golden State to two games in the race for the eighth and final playoff spot in the West.

Portland 115, Dallas 100--Arvydas Sabonis scored 21 points and Clifford Robinson added 17 as the streaking Trail Blazers defeated the Mavericks at Dallas.

Rod Strickland had 11 points and 13 assists for the Trail Blazers, who completed their best March in club history at 11-3.