NBA PLAYOFFS : Worthy Has Only 50-50 Chance to Play : Laker Forward Is Unable to Practice Because of Neck Injury

The Lakers are having a hard enough time winning with James Worthy, but now they may be forced to play their most important game of the playoffs today without him.

Worthy did not practice Saturday because of a painful neck injury, and his availability for Game 4 today against the Houston Rockets probably won’t be decided until tip-off (Channels 2 and 8, 12:30 p.m. PDT).

“Right now, his chance of playing is not more than 50-50, in my mind,” said Dr. Robert Kerlan, a Laker team physician.

If Worthy cannot play, it would be yet another blow to the Lakers, who trail the Rockets, 2-1, in the best-of-seven Western Conference final and need a victory to avoid a 3-1 deficit that has proven to be costly in the playoffs.

Only four teams in NBA history have come back from being down, 3-1, to win a series. The most recent time was in 1981, when the Boston Celtics beat the Philadelphia 76ers.

“No question, we’re going to be in trouble if James can’t play,” Magic Johnson said. “How much trouble, we’ll find out when it happens.”

Laker Coach Pat Riley would not say who would start in place of Worthy if he can’t play, but Michael Cooper would be the most likely candidate. Larry Spriggs might also be considered, but Riley hasn’t used Spriggs in a game since April 22.

“All I know is, if James cannot play, we’re going to have to make some major adjustments,” Riley said.

Worthy was injured with just under a minute left in the third quarter of the Lakers’ 117-109 Game 3 loss to the Rockets Friday night at the Summit.

Worthy drove the lane, but while he was airborne, he was apparently jostled off-balance by Akeem Olajuwon and banged his head on the hip of 6-10, 236-pound Jim Petersen.

“His head and neck were pushed sideways forcefully,” Kerlan said.

The injury was diagnosed as a cervical strain, something similar to a whiplash.

“When he came down, his body was almost horizontal to the floor,” Petersen said. “Then when his head hit my hip, it snapped his head back.”

Kerlan feared Worthy might have received a hairline fracture of a bone in his upper spine, so Worthy had precautionary X-rays Saturday. They were negative.

Worthy said he doesn’t actually remember how he was injured.

“I just remember going up for a shot, and then there was a big bang,” he said.

Worthy, who scored 15 of his 29 points in the third quarter, continued to play, but he was held scoreless in the fourth quarter. Worthy said his neck stiffened up considerably overnight and he is barely able to turn his head from side to side.

“It’s extremely stiff, but I’m taking muscle relaxers and other treatment, so hopefully that will clear it up,” Worthy said.

“I’d like to play, but I don’t think it would be right to do anything to hurt the team, and right now I can’t turn my head,” he said.

Dr. Stephen Lombardo, another Laker team physician, is not optimistic if Worthy’s neck hurts at gametime.

“If he’s still sore, I don’t see how he could play,” Lombardo said.

After two subpar offensive performances against the Rockets, Worthy got back on track with his scoring, but he once again was unable to rebound effectively.

Worthy finished with three rebounds in 42 minutes. In three games, Worthy has only eight rebounds.

Laker Notes There was more bad news for the Lakers Saturday. Petur Gudmundsson dislocated the ring finger on his right hand. He is expected to be ready to play today, anyway. . . . Michael Cooper and Rory Sparrow of the New York Knicks were named co-recipients of the J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award, chosen by the Professional Basketball Writers Assn. of America. The award is given annually for outstanding community service. . . . Coach Pat Riley said the Rockets are “physically outplaying” the Lakers. “There’s a difference in a winning mentality and a championship mentality,” Riley said. “We’ve got to stay in the game with every possession and not just spectate or they will continue to physically outplay us. One guy, Akeem Olajuwon, is making all the difference in this series in that regard.”

The Rockets have 40 more rebounds than the Lakers in the series, so Riley is looking for help. Riley said he will probably use Mitch Kupchak for the first time, although like Larry Spriggs, Kupchak is rusty. Kupchak has not played since April 26, which was the first game of the Dallas series. “Obviously, we’re not getting it done with what we’ve been going with,” Riley said. “Our leading rebounder is our point guard (Magic Johnson) and that just won’t get it done. Kareem and everybody else have just got to get more rebounds.”