March 6, 2000 vs. Los Angeles Clippers – 61 points, 23 rebounds, 24-35 FG
Not only is it the 43rd birthday of O’Neal, but it’s the 15-year anniversary of his greatest scoring output in team history. Against the cross-town rivals, O’Neal eviscerated them. Shockingly, #1 overall pick Michael Olowokandi and Pete Chilcutt offered very little in the way of defense against O’Neal, who tossed them like a rag doll all night long.
The Lakers seemed intent on letting Shaq score all night (finishing with 28 assists on the game), dumping the ball in play after play. Shaq returned the effort by playing as hard as we’ve seen him, racing down the floor on fast breaks, establishing deep position, and looking to dunk home every ball all night long. Quite crazily, Shaq shot an above average 13-22 from the line or we may have been looking an all-time great performance.
O’Neal set his career-high mark on a vicious alley-oop in the fourth quarter, but was not content. Phil Jackson left him in possibly as a birthday present and O’Neal didn’t stop. The game was the crowning jewel on Shaq’s MVP season.