Orlando’s Post-Shaq Era Begins With Defeat at Home to Bullets

The post-Shaq era in Orlando didn’t get off to a very good start Friday night, as the Magic lost at home, 96-92, to the Washington Bullets.

The Magic, playing its first regular-season game since Shaquille O’Neal signed with the Lakers, made only five of 23 three-point shots. Penny Hardaway, who had 19 points, was 0 for six from three-point range. Nick Anderson, who finished with 15 points, was three for 12.

The Magic thought it had tied the game with 7.4 second left when Gerald Wilkins sank a long jumper from the corner. But the shot was ruled a two-point basket instead of a three, and the Bullets went on to win.

New point guard Rod Strickland, obtained from Portland in the off-season, scored 20 points and had nine assists and no turnovers for the Bullets.

Minnesota 82, San Antonio 78--The Timberwolves, who play the Lakers Sunday night at the Forum, won their season opener at home even though Stephon Marbury, the Timberwolves’ highly regarded rookie point guard, suffered a badly sprained ankle five minutes into the game.

Marbury tried to play in the third quarter, but after falling down twice in three minutes, he came out of the game. However, Coach Flip Saunders said he hoped Marbury would be available for Sunday night’s game.

The Spurs, who played without David Robinson and reserves Chuck Person and Will Perdue, got 18 points from Dominique Wilkins, who played in Greece last season. But Wilkins was only seven for 21.

Chicago 107, Boston 98--The Bulls began defense of their fifth NBA title in seven seasons by winning at Boston, but they didn’t look like the team that won a record 72 games last season.

“We’re going to have to grind a little bit and find ways to win,” said Michael Jordan, who led all scorers with 30 points.

The Bulls erased an 11-point halftime deficit by outscoring the Celtics, 22-6, at the start of the third quarter to take a 70-65 lead.

The Bulls’ Robert Parish, who played 14 seasons with the Celtics, began his 21st season, breaking a tie with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for the NBA record. Parish made three key baskets in a row after Boston cut the lead to 86-85, building it back to 92-87 with 5:18 to play.

Miami 94, Atlanta 81--The Heat won with defense at Miami, as the Hawks had 24 turnovers, including 10 in the first quarter, shot 39% and scored only on field goal in the final 7:50.

“We made the defensive effort right from the beginning,” said Heat Coach Pat Riley, who has 799 victories in 15 seasons. “It was a great opening night for us.”

Alonzo Mourning had 26 points and 12 rebounds for the Heat. Christian Laettner had 31 points for Atlanta.

Houston 96, Sacramento 85--Clyde Drexler came within one assist of a rare quadruple-double as the Rockets started Charles Barkley’s tenure without Barkley and won at Houston. Drexler, who missed three days of practice this week because of a sprained left knee, had 25 points, nine assists, 10 rebounds and 10 steals. Barkley is serving a one-game suspension for fighting.

Cleveland 90, New Jersey 77--Terrell Brandon scored seven consecutive fourth-quarter points to foil a late Net rally at East Rutherford, N.J., as the Cavaliers spoiled John Calipari’s NBA coaching debut.

Milwaukee 111, Philadelphia 103--Vin Baker scored 25 points and Sherman Douglas 22 as the Bucks overcame a 30-point performance from Allen Iverson, the NBA’s top draft pick, and won at Philadelphia. Rookie Ray Allen had 13 points for the Bucks.

Dallas 92, Denver 91--Jim Jackson scored 28 points and Chris Gatling hit a layup with 7.1 seconds left as the Mavericks rallied to win at Denver, making a success of Jim Cleamons’ NBA head-coaching debut.

New York 107, Toronto 99--Allan Houston made an impact in his first regular-season game as a Knick, scoring 28 points against the Raptors at Toronto.

Damon Stoudamire led the Raptors with 28 points and 10 assists.

Detroit 95, Indiana 89--Joe Dumars scored 27 points and helped hold Reggie Miller to four-for-15 shooting as the Pistons won at Auburn Hills, Mich.

Portland 114, Vancouver 85--Kenny Anderson had 20 points, eight assists and seven rebounds and the Trail Blazers avoided a repeat of last year’s opening-night embarrassment by beating the Grizzlies at Vancouver.

Utah 99, Seattle 91--Karl Malone had 27 points and 13 rebounds and John Stockton added 24 points as the Jazz won its season opener by beating the SuperSonics at Salt Lake City. Shawn Kemp scored 26 for Seattle and Detlef Schrempf and Gary Payton had 24 apiece.