Magic, With 32, Has Third Straight 30-Point Game as Lakers Win by 2

The only shot that had Magic Johnson flashing his famous smile and leaping for joy was shot that James Worthy layed in to give the Lakers their last points of the night. Johnson had delivered a bounce-pass assist.

Assists seem to have that kind of effect on Johnson.

But his 32 points made more of an impression as he led the Lakers to a 108-106 victory over the Seattle SuperSonics Sunday night.

It was the third straight 30-point game for the Johnson, who scored 30 points against Golden State on Thursday night and 33 against Sacramento on Saturday. It was the fifth straight win for the Lakers.

As if it really matters, the Lakers clinched at least a tie for the Pacific Division title. The Lakers (48-16) now lead the second-place Portland Trail Blazers by 16 1/2 games. With a victory over the Clippers Tuesday night at the Forum, the Lakers will wrap up their fifth straight division title.

The last time the Lakers failed to win the division title was in the 1980-81 season, when they finished second to the Phoenix Suns.

Seattle, now 0-10 in games decided by three points or less, took a 99-98 lead with 4:23 to go on two free throws by Tom Chambers, who finished with 30 points to lead the Sonics.

The Lakers came back to take the lead on a 12-foot jumper by Maurice Lucas, and Johnson added a layup 30 seconds later.

The Lakers, who also got 20 points from Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, could not get their fast break on track, but were able to win with an excellent second half in which they connected on 21 of 33 field-goal attempts.

Johnson made 12 of 16 shots from the floor, 8 of 10 from the line and also had nine assists.

“We need for Magic to play like that,” Riley said. “He has had to change his game and his philosophy to be more consistent as a scorer. He has done that for us.

“He can’t be just a delivery man. We can’t rely on James (Worthy) or Kareem (Abdul-Jabbar) for all of our scoring.”

Magic Johnson understands that. As he held ice on the right knee that was banged up again in this game, he seconded his coach. “I know that I need to be a little more offensive-minded, and I’ve been doing that for the last seven or eight games,” he said. “It’s tough. But I’m doing it. I sort of like it in a way, but I still have to set up the man and run the team.

“I just have to remember to take up some of the offensive slack, too.”

Johnson hit the game-winning shot for the Lakers Thursday against Golden State and he sent the Saturday night’s double-overtime victory over Sacramento into the first overtime with a three-point shot with five seconds to play.

“Earvin has been a key in this run,” Riley said.

The Lakers’ next four games are at the Forum.

“We haven’t put anything together for a couple of months,” Riley said. “Maybe we will start showing a consistent level of play.

“It’s time to make a statment to those people in the East who think the demise of the Lakers has come. It’s time to show them that we are still breathing. I hope our players are up to it.”