Lakers’ Fifth Win Over Clippers Is Most Lopsided Yet

Once eagerly anticipated, the supposed rivalry between the Lakers and Clippers has steadily dissolved into an embarrassingly lopsided series that the Clippers no doubt hope will end soon.

Tuesday night at the Forum, in the fifth installment of the six-game series, the Lakers handed the Clippers their worst beating yet, 121-110, before a passive crowd of 16,251.

Although the margin of victory was only 11 points, the Lakers thoroughly dominated the Clippers. They opened a 21-2 lead in the first six minutes of the game, led by 29 points at halftime and then coasted the rest of the way. If not for Pat Riley’s liberal substitution, which left Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Magic Johnson on the bench the entire fourth quarter, this might have been a blowout of colossal proportions.

Instead, it was just another Laker victory and Clipper defeat. If you’re still keeping track, the Lakers have beaten the Clippers in all five meetings this season, and only the first game between the teams was close.

Fortunately for the Clippers--and those who enjoy competitive basketball--there is only one Laker-Clipper clash left (March 16 at the Sports Arena).

“I’m disappointed that we haven’t been able to make it closer against them this season,” Clipper Coach Jim Lynam said. “You’d like to play well against them, but the fact is it’s only one loss.”

One of many for the Clippers this season. Tuesday’s loss was the ninth in the last 10 games for the Clippers (20-31), as well as their eighth straight road defeat. The Lakers (36-16), meanwhile, rolled to their fifth straight win after a seven-day layoff during the All-Star break.

With every new dismal Clipper effort, Lynam’s job status seemingly becomes less secure. Clipper General Manager Carl Scheer, who says he doesn’t believe in votes of confidence, was conspicuous by his absence in the Clipper locker room Tuesday. Usually, he at least stops by to brood.

As usual, Lynam dismissed speculation about whether he’ll be fired as just part of his job. But Riley came to his defense.

“I have compassion for Jimmy, I really do,” Riley said. “All coaches are victims, to a certain extent. When we were 2-5 early in the season, I felt the pressure. The Clippers just have to keep working. Losing Bill Walton (out for another week with soreness in his right ankle) really hurt. But I’m more concerned about my own team.”

There really is no reason for Riley to worry about the Lakers. Any signs of rustiness after the week layoff wasn’t evident in the early stages Tuesday. The Lakers came out of the blocks faster than Carl Lewis and didn’t let up until the fourth quarter, when they seemingly lost interest.

Byron Scott led the Lakers with 25 points and seven steals, while Johnson had 23 points and 12 assists in 26 minutes and Abdul-Jabbar 22 points in 26 minutes. Bob McAdoo (15) and James Worthy (13) also hit double figures. The Clippers were led by Junior Bridgeman’s 18 and Derek Smith’s 17 points.

Unlike past seasons, Riley wanted to make sure the Lakers stayed in shape during the All-Star break. So, last week he told the team he would fine anyone $100 who showed up for practice overweight.

“We had a big ritual at practice Monday,” Riley said. “We put a scale at center court. No one was overweight. In fact, a couple guys had lost weight. It worked out well for us. We came out very quick. It was obvious, with the days off, we were definitely mentally and physically ready for this one.”

It also was obvious the that Clippers were not. The Lakers outscored the Clippers, 8-0, in the first 2 1/2 minutes before Lynam called a timeout. When Lynam called another timeout two minutes later, the Clippers trailed, 16-2, their only points having come on two Derek Smith free throws. And when the Clippers called a third timeout with 5:33 left, the Lakers had a 21-2 lead.

By the end of the first quarter, the Lakers led, 39-19, 28 of their points having come via layups or dunks after Clipper turnovers or their own missed shots. Not much changed in the second quarter, as the Lakers extended the margin to 75-46 by halftime.

Most of the second half was devoted to improving individual statistics, giving Laker regulars a rest and giving the Clippers an opportunity to make the score respectable.

Which they did. Afterward, though, the Clippers were still understandably embarrassed about falling behind, 21-2, in the first quarter.

“It felt like we were in a trance,” Norm Nixon said. “There was a lid on the basket and all the missed shots gave them the opportunity to get their fast break going. . . . We do this all the time. But we’ve got to keep working. I’ll be here tomorrow and I’ll not to be too frustrated.”

Notes Clipper forward Marques Johnson again declined to comment on a story in Saturday’s Times reporting that the Milwaukee Bucks did not inform the Clippers before last September’s trade that Johnson had undergone treatment at St. Mary’s Drug Rehabilitation Center in Minneapolis in July, 1983. . . . Laker forward Kurt Rambis married Forum tennis vice president Linda Zafrani in Las Vegas during the All-Star break. . . . Gail Carmichael, wife of Clipper public relations director Scott Carmichael, gave birth to a boy, named Christopher, Saturday night.