Spurs coach Gregg Popovich appeared to play a joke on Suns center Shaquille O'Neal just a few seconds into a game between Phoenix and San Antonio on Wednesday night.

Just five seconds into the game, Michael Finley intentionally fouled O'Neal.

After some confusion on behalf of O'Neal and the Suns, ESPN's camera focused on a grinning Popovich, who stuck up both his thumbs in O'Neal's direction.

Shaquille shared a laugh with Popovich before the game was resumed and the intensity of the rivalry between the two teams returned.

O'Neal famously criticized Popovich and the Spurs for employing the "Hack-A-Shaq" strategy in the first round of last year's playoffs.

Suns' center Shaquille O'Neal still believes that he is the NBA's best big man.

"Because I've done the most," O'Neal said. "I'm not worried about guys winning dunk contests and doing stuff like that. You still have to outdo the shogun to become the shogun. When I leave, it'll be because my time is up, not because someone is outplaying me or someone has done more than me. The only one who has even done close, and I don't really consider him a center, is Mr. (Tim) Duncan. Any other center, the things that they have done, I invented."

O'Neal is entering his seventeenth season in the league.

"I just try to pace myself every 20 games," O'Neal, 36, said. "When I was younger, I had a different mentality, so I really haven't mastered the mentality of being an old guy yet."

Amare Stoudemire scored 17 points before leaving the Suns' preseason win against the undermanned Oklahoma City Thunder in the third quarter with a dislocated left pinky, the Associated Press is reporting.

The Phoenix Suns have exercised their team option on Alando Tucker for the 2009-2010 season, the East Valley Tribune is reporting.

The team also announced that they have cut guard Robert Hite.

Shaquille O'Neal and Grant Hill are reportedly serious about buying the Orlando Magic when their playing careers are over in a couple of years.

O'Neal and Hill, both former Magic players who make their permanent homes in Orlando, will talk with executives to see if the team is available.

"Yeah, it's serious," O'Neal said. "Grant, who's like my best friend now, we have a relationship with the [owner Rich] DeVos family. So we always throw out Grant president, me general manager. We always throw that out just to see what they say. Hopefully, they bite that. But if not, just put together a group and try to get something somewhere.

"I've mentioned it to [Orlando CEO and president] Bob Vander Weide, and he laughs. But I know they love Grant as president. I know they like that idea. I always try to ride Grant's coat tails. Hey, Grant's the president. He's better looking, better spoken, and can do the president. But I can be the general manager. I can get stuff done."

According to the Arizona Republic, two-time MVP Steve Nash is doubtful for the Suns' game against Charlotte on Monday after spraining his ankle for the second time in five days.

On the final play of practice Sunday, Nash landed on Alando Tucker's foot on a breakaway layup. He sprained that ankle Wednesday when he came down from a jump shot on an Atlanta player's foot, prompting the team to hold him out as a precaution until Sunday.

Steve Nash and Shaquille O'Neal will not play on Friday night for the Suns when the team battles the Nuggets.

Nash is nursing a sprained ankle while O'Neal will sit as a preventative measure.

"His legs are a little beat up and we don?t want to run the guy into the ground in October," GM Steve Kerr said of O'Neal. "He?s done every drill and every scrimmage and he needs a break. We want to make sure he?s OK for the regular season, and that?s only two weeks away."

Steve Nash turned his right ankle late in the first half of the Suns' game against Atlanta on Wednesday night and did not return, according to a report by ESPN News Services.

He was later seen walking around the locker room with no limp, just an ace bandage on his ankle.

He may be held out of Friday's game against the Nuggets at Syracuse, N.Y., as a precaution, according to Suns spokeswoman Julie Fie.

Suns' Coach Terry Porter could test the idea of starting Matt Barnes at small forward instead of Grant Hill.

Porter wouldn't commit to starting Barnes over Hill against the Hawks on Wednesday.

"He (Barnes) and Grant have some very similar skills, as far as the ability to put the ball on the floor, run pick and rolls, space it," Porter said. "In a lot of ways, they're the same type. Matt's just a young version of Grant, maybe."

The Phoenix Suns have waived Trey Johnson, reducing their roster to 14, the East Valley Tribune is reporting.

Johnson, an undrafted rookie, did not make an appearance in the preseason.