PHOENIX (AP)—Toronto’s Chris Bosh had an explanation for how Shaquille O’Neal scored 45 points: He cheated.
“He was just camping down in the lane,†Bosh said Friday night, after O’Neal’s biggest scoring night in six years led Phoenix to a 133-113 victory over the Raptors. “I mean, if they’re not calling three seconds—I thought it was a rule, but I guess not.â€
It was the 49th 40-point game of O’Neal’s career and his highest-scoring game since he got 48 for the Los Angeles Lakers against Boston on March 21, 2003.
“It was cool,†O’Neal said. “Guys were really looking for me. I’ve been saying all year if I can get those touches like that, I think I can do that every night.â€
A week shy of his 37th birthday, Shaq made 20 of 25 shots and grabbed 11 rebounds.
“He’s just so strong and pushes guys right under the basket and gets inside,†Toronto coach Jay Triano said. “We have no match for him.â€
O’Neal still insists no one can guard him one on one.
“I’m the only player,†he said, “who looks at each and every center and says to myself, ‘That’s barbecued chicken down there.â€â€™
“He was just camping down in the lane,†Bosh said Friday night, after O’Neal’s biggest scoring night in six years led Phoenix to a 133-113 victory over the Raptors. “I mean, if they’re not calling three seconds—I thought it was a rule, but I guess not.â€
It was the 49th 40-point game of O’Neal’s career and his highest-scoring game since he got 48 for the Los Angeles Lakers against Boston on March 21, 2003.
“It was cool,†O’Neal said. “Guys were really looking for me. I’ve been saying all year if I can get those touches like that, I think I can do that every night.â€
A week shy of his 37th birthday, Shaq made 20 of 25 shots and grabbed 11 rebounds.
“He’s just so strong and pushes guys right under the basket and gets inside,†Toronto coach Jay Triano said. “We have no match for him.â€
O’Neal still insists no one can guard him one on one.
“I’m the only player,†he said, “who looks at each and every center and says to myself, ‘That’s barbecued chicken down there.â€â€™
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