NBA ROUNDUP : O’Neal Outduels Mourning

Shaquille O’Neal had 29 points and outscored fellow rookie Alonzo Mourning, 8-0, in the fourth quarter Wednesday night, pacing the Orlando Magic to a 109-96 victory over the Hornets at Charlotte, N.C.

Orlando, with a 35-37 record, remained 1 1/2 games out of the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, which is shared by Charlotte and Indiana, both at 37-36. Indiana drew into a tie with a 113-105 victory over Minnesota Wednesday night.

Entering the fourth quarter, O’Neal and Mourning each had 21 points. Thanks to some superior reserve play, the Magic led, 84-75. To that point, Orlando’s reserves had outscored the Hornets’ bench, 34-16. They went on to outscore Charlotte’s bench, 46-24.

O’Neal made 12 of 21 shots and added 10 rebounds. Mourning was five of 12 from the field and 11 of 11 from the free-throw line. He had eight rebounds.

Mourning fouled out with 3:10 remaining and the Hornets trailing, 103-88.

Indiana 113, Minnesota 105--Rik Smits scored 24 of his 34 points in the second half to lead the Pacers at Minneapolis.

The Pacers moved over the .500 mark for the first time since Jan. 30, when they were 22-21.

Indiana won its second road game in as many days and its fourth in five games.

Smits made 15 of 22 shots to come within three points of his career high. He reportedly is close to signing a five-year contract for $17.5 million. The 7-foot-4 center, now in his fifth season, could become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season.

Minnesota’s Micheal Williams, playing against his former team, scored 30 points and made 16 of 16 free throws to tie a team record and extend to 50 his string of free throws made.

Philadelphia 98, Washington 90--Jeff Hornacek scored nine of his 30 points during a 1:43 stretch of the fourth quarter as the 76ers rallied from a 15-point deficit at Landover, Md.