Shaquille O’Neal’s Top 10 Orlando Magic Performances

Shaquille O’Neal, one of the most dominant centers in NBA history, had numerous memorable performances during his time with the Orlando Magic. Let’s take a trip down memory lane and revisit O’Neal’s top 10 performances while wearing the Magic jersey.

1. #10 Nov. 5, 1993 at Heat
   On opening night in 1993, O’Neal torched the Heat with 42 points on 17-of-24 shooting. Also that night, in his first NBA regular season game, Penny Hardaway posted 12 points, eight rebounds, and eight assists.
2. #9 Feb. 16, 1993 at Pistons
   O’Neal tallied 46 points, his rookie season high, on 19-of-25 shooting from the field at Detroit. The Magic’s 7-foot-1 center also grabbed 21 rebounds and blocked five shots. Scott Skiles had a big game as well that night, compiling 27 points and 11 assists, while, for the Pistons, Joe Dumars was spectacular with 39 points.
3. #8 May 16, 1995 vs. Bulls
   Shaq had two 20-20 performances during the 1995 playoffs, one of which came in Game 5 of Orlando’s Eastern Conference Semifinals series against Chicago with 23 points and 22 rebounds. The other was a 20-point, 21-rebound performance in Game 3 of the first round against Boston.
4. #7 May 25, 1995 vs. Pacers
   O’Neal’s best scoring performance during the 1995 playoffs came in Game 2 of Orlando’s Eastern Conference Finals series against Indiana when he racked up 39 points on 15-of-21 shooting. Dennis Scott also was terrific in that victory, knocking down seven 3-pointers as part of his 25-point performance.
5. #6 June 7 & 9, 1995 vs. Rockets
   Shaq flirted with triple-doubles in each of the first two games of the NBA Finals in 1995 against Houston. In Game 1, he had 26 points, 16 rebounds, and nine assists, while in Game 2, he posted 33 points, 12 rebounds, and seven assists.
6. #5 Nov. 9, 1994 at Hornets
   It was always a fun battle when O’Neal and Alonzo Mourning, the top two picks in the 1992 NBA Draft, went head to head. Shaq got the best of his Charlotte counterpart in 1994, when the Orlando center exploded for 46 points and hauled down 20 rebounds. Mourning finished with 26 points.
7. #4 March 22, 1996 at Bullets
   Twice with Orlando O’Neal scored 49 points, tied for his fourth highest scoring total of his career. The second time it happened was against Washington’s big frontline of 7-foot-7 center Gheorghe Muresan, 6-foot-11 forward Rasheed Wallace, and 6-foot-9 forward Juwan Howard. His other 49-point game with the Magic came in 1993 against the Pacers.
8. #3 May 8, 1996 vs. Hawks
   The most points Shaq scored in a playoff game with the Magic was 41, his total in Game 1 of the 1996 conference semifinals against Atlanta. Penny Hardaway also was sensational that night, amassing 32 points.
9. #2 April 20, 1994 vs. Timberwolves
   O’Neal’s second most impressive stat line with the Magic, arguably, came against the Wolves when he recorded 53 points.