MIAMI — Shaquille O'Neal flopped against Orlando center Dwight Howard. Now he's standing up to Magic coach Stan Van Gundy.

Responding to Van Gundy's reaction about O'Neal's tactics against Howard on Tuesday night, the Phoenix center lashed out at his former coach with the Miami Heat, calling him "a master of panic," a "nobody" and "a frontrunner."

"One thing I really despise is a frontrunner," O'Neal said before the Suns played the Heat, Shaq's first time back in Miami since last season's trade. "I know for a fact he's a master of panic and when it gets time for his team to go into the postseason and do certain things, he will let them down because of his panic. I've been there before. I've played for him."

O'Neal was guarding Howard with about 4 minutes left in the third quarter Tuesday night. Howard made a spin move, O'Neal fell to the court in an effort to get an offensive foul called, and the Magic center easily dunked with two hands.

Afterward, Van Gundy said he was "shocked, seriously. I was shocked and disappointed because he knows what it's like. You know, let's stand up and play like men, and I think our guy did that."

O'Neal, who typically does not talk before Suns games, didn't hold back when asked for his reaction. He played for Van Gundy in Miami for parts of two seasons and openly complained about coaching decisions in the 2005 Eastern Conference finals, when the Heat lost Game 7 at home to the Detroit Pistons.

"Flopping is playing like that your whole career," O'Neal said. "I was trying to take a charge, trying to get a call. Yeah, it probably was a flop, but flopping is wrong. Flopping would describe his coaching."

O'Neal and Van Gundy even had words about it on the sideline in Tuesday's game, which the Magic won 111-99. O'Neal had 19 points and 11 rebounds.

ELSEWHERE

Bobcats: Charlotte is hoping a couple days of rest will help heal guard Raja Bell's painful right biceps strain. Bell sat out practice yesterday and coach Larry Brown said his starting shooting guard would likely miss today's workout. Brown is hopeful Bell will be able to play tomorrow night against Atlanta.

Cavaliers: Cleveland agreed to terms on a one-year contract with Joe Smith, bringing the veteran forward back for another NBA title run. Smith, who bought out his contract with Oklahoma City, cleared waivers yesterday and must pass a physical before he can sign with the Cavaliers, who reluctantly traded him away last summer.

Pistons: Detroit star Allen Iverson, who has missed three straight games, will be out at least two weeks because of a sore back. The Pistons said doctors evaluated Iverson yesterday and recommended he put basketball aside for two weeks.

Spurs: San Antonio released forward Pops Mensah-Bonsu in what may be a space-clearing move to add veteran free agent forward Drew Gooden. Gooden cleared waivers from Sacramento, where the 6-foot-10 forward played in just one game after being traded from Chicago. The Spurs would not comment on reports saying they might pick up Gooden.

Suns: Forward Stromile Swift signed a free-agent contract with Phoenix for the remainder of the season and was in uniform last night against the Miami Heat, the team said. The nine-year veteran was waived earlier this week by the New Jersey Nets.

Trail Blazers: Portland forward Martell Webster will miss the rest of the regular season because of the stress fracture in his left foot that has kept him sidelined for nearly the entire season. Webster was projected to be a starter this season, but fractured the fifth metatarsal in his left foot during the preseason and had surgery.