ORLANDO - Tracy McGrady had a record-setting night that felt strangely empty.
McGrady scored a team-record 62, becoming just the third NBA player in the past 12 years to score that many, in the Magic's 108-99 victory over the Wizards on Wednesday night.
"I really didn't enjoy it, but I should have," McGrady said. "Usually when I have a big game like this, the crowd is going crazy and I like getting into it with them, but I didn't feel it tonight.
"I couldn't get into it because of the record we have, the fact we're not going nowhere after the regular season - it's just frustrating."
McGrady broke Shaquille O'Neal's team record of 53 set against Minnesota in 1994. It was the league's first 60-point game since O'Neal had 61 for the Lakers vs. the Clippers on March 6, 2000. In the past 12 years, only David Robinson (71 vs. the Clippers on April 24, 1994) and Michael Jordan (63 vs. Orlando on Jan. 16, 1993) have scored as least 62.
McGrady shot 20-for-37 from the field, including 5-for-14 from 3-point range, and made 17 of 26 free throws in 46 minutes. He also had 10 rebounds and five assists.
McGrady showed little emotion while scoring 55 over the final three quarters, most on jump shots from the 18- to 20-foot range.
"We could have stopped him by fouling him real hard, but you don't want to play dirty basketball," said Gilbert Arenas, who scored 40 for Washington. "You just got to let him play and once he gets it rolling, he's really hard to stop."
McGrady's career high was 52 points against Chicago on Feb. 21, 2003. The Magic, which has won only 19 games this season, swept the four-game season series.
"When it's all said and done, this will just be one of 82 games in the book," McGrady said.
LAKERS 117, CELTICS 109: Kobe Bryant made a quicker-than-expected return from a shoulder injury and had 18 points and 10 assists to lead visiting Los Angeles. Shaquille O'Neal had 28 points and 17 rebounds for the Lakers, who led by as many as 10 in the second quarter and by 14 in the third.
The Celtics got within six with about two minutes left but could not stop O'Neal, who scored 15 in the fourth. Bryant re-injured his shoulder Friday against Seattle after missing six games earlier in the season because of a sprain of the same shoulder. The Lakers initially feared he would be out a month.
CAVS 106, RAPTORS 92: Zydrunas Ilgauskas scored 30 for visiting Cleveland, which won its fifth straight. Carlos Boozer added 11 points and 13 rebounds for the Cavaliers, who had not won five in a row since December 2000. Cleveland won its 11th road game, its most since 1997-98, the last time the Cavs made the playoffs.
LeBron James added 14 points as Cleveland moved two games ahead of Toronto in the East playoff race. The Cavaliers have won 14 of their past 18 games against East opponents. Vince Carter had 19 points for the Raptors.
NETS 98, NUGGETS 97: Kenyon Martin scored 28 and Richard Jefferson added 26 for host New Jersey. Jason Kidd, who missed four games with a bone bruise of the left knee, returned for the Nets. He scored eight points and had 13 assists in 39 minutes.
Carmelo Anthony led the Nuggets with 24 points. The Nets seemed to have the game under control after taking a 93-81 lead with 4:15 left after five straight points by Jason Collins. But the Nuggets used a 13-3 run to pull within two with 1:06 left. After Marcus Camby blocked Kerry Kittles' shot, Earl Boykins missed a jumper that would have tied it.
PISTONS 98, BULLS 65: Chauncey Billups scored 19 and Rasheed Wallace added 18, and host Detroit extended its league record by holding an opponent under 70 points for a fourth straight game. The Pistons are the first team since the shot clock was implemented in 1954-55 to have a streak of more than two games and have won the four by an average of 25 points. Chicago, which played without center Eddy Curry (thigh), lost its fourth in a row and had a season-low point total.
HORNETS 95, HEAT 84: Baron Davis had 33 points and 10 rebounds for host New Orleans, which scored 42 on free throws. The Hornets, which had lost four of five coming in, opened the fourth quarter with an 10-1 run for an 82-72 lead. Miami tried to climb back with eight 3-point attempts, but missed them all. David Wesley scored 19 for New Orleans, including all 11 free throws as the Hornets tied a franchise record for free throws in a game.
SPURS 108, CLIPPERS 90: Malik Rose had 21 points and 12 rebounds for host San Antonio. The game turned lopsided in the first four minutes as the Spurs, using the same uptempo offense they relied for six games while missing Tim Duncan (leg), took a 14-3 lead. Duncan had nine points on 4-for-10 shooting and a season-low two rebounds in 15 minutes.
JAZZ 91, WARRIORS 77: Andrei Kirilenko had 20 points and 15 rebounds and Raja Bell added 15 points for Utah, extending Golden State's skid to seven in a row. The Jazz, which shot 59 percent and forced 14 turnovers in the first half, beat the Warriors for the 19th straight time at home.
BUCKS 94, HAWKS 80: Keith Van Horn and Michael Redd each had 23 points to lead host Milwaukee. Van Horn went 13-of-14 from the free-throw line and added 11 rebounds as the Bucks snapped a three-game skid. Milwaukee led the entire second half.
BLAZERS 92, WOLVES 79: Damon Stoudamire had 28 points to lead host Portland. The Trail Blazers went ahead 68-54 early in the fourth on Shareef Abdur-Rahim's fadeaway jumper. Two straight 3s from Stoudamire extended the lead to 78-59. Kevin Garnett led Minnesota with 20 points.
