LANDOVER -- Juwan who?
The Bullets had their No. 1 draft pick reject a 12-year, $41.6 million contract offer yesterday, then beat a team predicted by many to reach the NBA Finals.
Shaquille who?
The game's most feared inside player found himself guarded by forward Tom Gugliotta in the final 1:52, but somehow managed only one point.
It was one game, one of 82, one in a season in which the Bullets might win only 30. But that was a playoff win over Orlando last night. A stunning, electrifying, playoff win.
Wes who?
Bullets 110, Magic 108.
"Teams can't sleep when they come to Washington anymore," Orlando point guard Anfernee Hardaway said.
"I think they're going to be the surprise team in the Atlantic," Orlando coach Brian Hill said.
What an opener.
Bullets rally from 14-point halftime deficit. Bullets get inspired play from their odd-couple centers. Bullets win on an off-balance 20-footer by Rex Chapman with 0.3 seconds left.
It all happened at USAir Arena.
O'Neal finished with 28 points and 12 rebounds, but it wasn't enough. Nick Anderson gave Orlando the lead by hitting two free throws with 2.4 seconds left, but it wasn't enough.
It wasn't enough because Gugliotta finished with a team-high 24 points and Calbert Cheaney 20. It wasn't enough because Scott Skiles scored all 13 of his points in the second half.
And it wasn't enough because Kevin Duckworth and Gheorghe Muresan combined for a shocking 27 points and 10 rebounds -- nearly matching O'Neal's production.
"They were huge," Gugliotta said.
Duckworth finished with 16 points and four rebounds, and received a standing ovation from a crowd that booed him all last season when he fouled out with 1:52 left.
The Mighty Duck is 40 pounds slimmer now, and last night he finally looked like the player he was in Portland, where he became a two-time All-Star.
Hook shots from 10 and 12 feet? Duck hit 'em. Drives to the basket at O'Neal? Duck did it. A blocked shot with 2:35 left and the score tied? Duck was happy to oblige.
"If he didn't show the fans that he worked hard in the summer and came ready to play, I don't know what they're looking for," Chapman said.
He showed them.
And incredibly, Muresan showed them, too.
Any player six inches taller than the 7-foot-1 O'Neal is a factor, even if he can barely run and jump. Every time Muresan catches the ball, it looks like an accident. But last night, he hit five of his seven shots.
Muresan fouled out in only 17 minutes, but he contributed 11 points and six rebounds -- including a huge follow that pulled the Bullets within 95-94 with 6:32 left.
Duckworth and Muresan actually were on the floor together for 3 1/2 minutes in the fourth quarter, presenting huge matchup problems for Orlando, who had to put the 6-10 Horace Grant on the 7-foot Duckworth.
But Muresan fouled out with 3:30 left, and Duckworth with 1:52 left. The score was tied at 105 when the Bullets lost Duckworth. O'Neal figured to take over at that point. But it never happened.
Gugliotta had only two fouls, and he played O'Neal as physically as he could. The Bullets double-teamed O'Neal, just as they did the entire game. And somehow, they survived.
O'Neal, 55 percent from the line last season, worked all summer to improve his foul shooting, and he was better last night, making 10 of 14. All of his misses, however, came in the final 6:13.
On this night, everything went the Bullets' way. Gugliotta got two lucky bounces on free throws to give the Bullets a 107-106 lead with 1:08 left. And Chapman was falling down when he hit his game-winner on a possession that began with 2.4 seconds left.
To think, the Bullets accomplished this after a pitiful first half in which they had only one steal and were out-rebounded, 25-15. They had eight steals in the second half, and were out-rebounded only 24-22.
Who knows? Maybe things will be different under Jim Lynam. Certainly, Lynam is a grittier, sweatier alternative to Wes Unseld.
He pumped his fist after every big basket, and after one missed shot, he ran to the end of the bench and whispered to a fan, "We've got to make that, don't we?"
"I don't know if Jimmy can last 82 games, but we're undefeated," Chapman said. "Maybe we can go 82-0."
Savor it now, Rex.
Juwan who? Shaquille who? Wes who?
$ The Bullets are 1-0.