O'Neal fires season-high 23 points

WASHINGTON - JUST like the old times, Shaquille O'Neal assumed dominance when it mattered most on Wednesday.

The Miami Heat centre, who turns 35 next week, scored a season-high 23 points to lead his depleted team to a 92-83 victory over the Washington Wizards in a National Basketball Association game.

Said O'Neal, who missed 39 games this season with a knee injury: 'I don't have the same explosiveness yet, but it's coming back.'

It is a game between two injury-hit sides.

The Heat were without star guard Dwyane Wade, out with a dislocated shoulder.

The Wizards were also missing two of their top three scorers, Caron Butler and Antawn Jamison.

With Wizards captain Gilbert Arenas having another poor shooting night with only 15 points, O'Neal became the star attraction with a variety of low-post moves against his hapless defender Brendan Haywood.

Said Heat coach Pat Riley: 'A lot of people don't think Shaq can play any more. That's why they guard him one-on-one.

'They're making a big mistake, if he keeps getting his rhythm down.'

Forced to carrying more of the load while Wade is out, O'Neal finished 11-for-17 from the field and also had 10 rebounds, four assists and three blocks.

He would have scored more, had he not missed six of seven free throws.

The Heat improved to 2-2 since Wade's dislocated his left shoulder.

He is scheduled to get a second opinion today to determine whether he should have season-ending surgery.

DeShawn Stevenson led the Wizards with 19 points.

ASSOCIATED PRESS