Shaq's return sparks L.A.
By Steven Wine
Associated Press
MIAMI — Shaquille O'Neal returned from a two-game layoff looking rested rather than rusty.
Associated Press
Showing no signs of the wrist injury that sidelined him, O'Neal scored 40 points yesterday to lead the Los Angeles Lakers to a 96-88 victory over the Miami Heat.
Lakers center Shaquille O'Neal, right, bullied Alonzo Mourning and the Miami Heat in a 96-88 win.
"He's just Shaq," teammate Kobe Bryant said. "It seems like whenever he misses a game, he comes back with a vengeance, and you saw that today."
The only good news for fading Miami was that Pat Riley said he'll return as coach and president next season, despite the first losing season of his 20-year career.
Miami lost for the eighth time in 10 games and moved closer to elimination from the playoff race. The Heat are 11th in the Eastern Conference, five games behind eighth-place Toronto with six games left in the chase for the final berth.
Los Angeles, which has five games remaining, moved a game ahead of third-place Dallas in the Western Conference.
O'Neal made 14 of 22 shots, grabbed 11 rebounds in 41 minutes and reached 40 points for the sixth time this season when he sank a free throw with 31 seconds left.
"He was very good," Riley said. "He just picks you apart."
O'Neal's baskets included a fast-break layup when Robert Horry fed him with a behind-the-back pass.
The Lakers lost both games while O'Neal was sidelined, scoring 81 points and shooting 34 percent Friday against Boston, both season lows.
"You don't want to say that we're a mediocre team without him," Lakers forward Rick Fox said. "But that's really what we are."
Said O'Neal: "We're a better team when we have all our components working."
On defense, O'Neal helped limit the Heat's starting frontline to 29 points.
"Guys grabbed rebounds and dribbled out," Fox said. "That's because they didn't know where he was and they had to be leery. You can see the effect he has."
Bryant, who missed a morning shootaround with flulike symptoms, had 19 points and 11 rebounds in 38 minutes.
"It was a matter of playing enough to get going," Bryant said. "Once I had my second wind, I was fine."
Rod Strickland led the Heat with 21 points and nine assists.
Miami cut a 14-point third-quarter deficit to 69-65 on Eddie House's 3-pointer, and a basket by Vladimir Stepania made it 73-71.
But the Heat then missed eight consecutive field-goal attempts and two free throws as the Lakers scored 10 points in a row to lead 83-71.
"We had a lot of good shots, but we just didn't make enough," Riley said.
O'Neal scored the Lakers' first 13 points. His teammates were 0-for-9 before a basket by Lindsey Hunter with 1:56 to go in the opening quarter made it 15-11.
The Heat missed 21 of their first 26 shots and fell behind 34-20. Their best outside shooters, House and Eddie Jones, went a combined 10-for-31.
"They played pretty soft defense," House said. "We had a lot of good looks, but we just weren't hitting them."
Riley will return
Before the game, Riley said he'll return next season.
"I don't have any plans other than to coach and manage the team," Riley said. "I like what I do. We all take stock in what we do and search and say, 'Is it time?' I'm young. I'm invigorated. I'm healthy."
There had been speculation that the 57-year-old Riley might retire as coach and continue as team president. He took responsibility for the disappointing season but said he wants to keep both jobs.
"The president is not going to fire the coach," Riley said.
The decision is Riley's because he has the support of owner Micky Arison.
The loss yesterday left the Heat on the verge of elimination from the playoff race, and would be the first time Riley has failed to make the postseason.
"We didn't get it done," he said. "This team is good enough to be in the playoffs and should be in the playoffs. Ultimately, the buck stops here."
The Heat are 33-43. Riley's worst previous record was 42-40 in his first season with Miami six years ago.
There was speculation when the Heat started 5-23 that Riley might quit. Following a midseason surge that got the team into playoff contention, the Heat have lost eight of 10 games.
"I didn't get them over the hump after all that hard work," Riley said. "That's what it comes down to."
