It was fun while it lasted, but it just didn't last long enough.

When the well suddenly went dry ? all those jump shots stopped falling ? the Orlando Magic wilted like a red rose in a dry sauna.

The two-time defending champion Los Angeles Lakers, who waited patiently all evening, knew exactly what to do.

They blew the Magic right out of their own TD Waterhouse Centre, riding an early, fourth-quarter barrage to a 111-93 victory Wednesday night.

Shaquille O'Neal, still basketball's most dominating player, led everyone with 30 points and 14 rebounds, but he wasn't even playing when the Lakers put this one away.

After leading throughout the first three quarters, living on jump shots long and short, the Magic collapsed when the fourth period began.

They missed their first eight shots, and made one of their first 12 in that final period. They scored two points in the first 6 minutes, 20 seconds. A 77-75 lead when the fourth quarter began became a 93-79 deficit that sealed the outcome with more than five minutes remaining.

It was like the air left the building, like the camping trip ended prematurely, and the Magic folded up the tent.

?When the Lakers made their run, we had too many guys just hanging their heads," Magic Coach Doc Rivers said. "You knew the world champs were going to make their run, and when they did, we didn't respond. There was a stretch for five minutes Shaq was off the floor, and we didn't take the ball to the basket once."

Tracy McGrady had 22 points and 10 rebounds to lead the Magic. Although he started the fourth quarter on the bench, he was rushed back into the game less than two minutes later, but he couldn't stop the fall. He hit a 3-pointer, but the outcome already had been decided.

?This was very disappointing," McGrady said. ?We got tired, and we hung our heads. We never responded when things got tough. I hope we learned something from this."

Pat Garrity had 22 points, hitting six of 13 from 3-point range, but he didn't score in the fourth when the Magic shot 29 percent from the field.

?We just got our butts kicked, that's it," said point guard Darrell Armstrong, who had 12 points and seven assists.

The Lakers outscored the Magic 52-22 from inside the lane. O'Neal kept the Lakers close throughout the game, but it was Kobe Bryant and everyone else who won it in the fourth.

Bryant finished with 23 points, including 12 in the fourth quarter. Rick Fox had 12 points. Devean George had 13 points.

The Lakers held a 51-39 rebound advantage.

The Lakers took the lead early in the fourth quarter ? the first time they led since the first two minutes ? when Bryant hit back-to-back baskets. The Magic never challenged again.

Since leaving the Magic as a free agent in 1996, O'Neal has averaged 31.5 points, 15 rebounds and 3.2 blocked shots against them in 10 games. The Lakers have won nine.

The Magic were without starting center Horace Grant, who was home because of an intestinal virus. Don Reid, who didn't play against the Lakers on Nov. 11 in Los Angeles, got the start. He had six points and five rebounds.

The Magic led 51-47 at halftime, riding a hot-shooting start that included seven 3-pointers in 15 attempts.

O'Neal had 19 points and seven rebounds by halftime, but his supporting cast struggled early. The rest of the Lakers hit 10 of 30 shots in the first half.

Bryant missed an easy breakaway dunk, which typified the Lakers, except for O'Neal, early in the game. The next possession, though, O'Neal almost tore down the goal standard with a no-doubt dunk.