Magic Does the Trick as Lakers Win at the End : Johnson Scores 34 Points, and His Last-Second Shot Beats the Kings, 113-111

The fourth quarters of recent Laker games have been sittin’ time for the starters, strictly because what they had accomplished in the first three quarters was enough to assure another easy win.

But Sunday night before 13,421 at the Forum, the Lakers had to work every second of the fourth quarter to eke out a 113-111 win over the Sacramento Kings on Magic Johnson’s 12-foot jump shot off one foot with one second to play.

Johnson, who played the final seconds with his right eye partially closed and a sore right shoulder, took the inbounds pass from Michael Cooper, surveyed the option of passing to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar at the low post but instead decided to drive to the basket. He pulled up near the lane and swished an off-balance shot.

Johnson, who took as many shots from the physical Kings as he made from the field in scoring a game-high 34 points, was so bruised and battered afterward that he had five ice bags wrapped around various parts of his anatomy. But it was not painful for Johnson to recount his game-winning shot.

“I was going to drive,” he said. “I had my man beat, but one of his teammates closed me off. So, I decided to shoot the jumper.

“It was a very, very physical game. But as long as we won the battle, that’s fine. I’m going to see the highlights of the Rams and Raiders games (later Sunday) and hope I see somebody get hit harder than I was.”

Laker Coach Pat Riley didn’t need to see the highlights of the Laker-Kings game to draw conclusions. Because this wasn’t another easy win, not all the things Riley saw pleased him.

“We stopped playing when we got the 12-point lead (at 80-68 with 3:30 left in the third quarter),” Riley said. “We got weak and started playing their game. We were just walking around out there.”

Perhaps, at that point, the Lakers felt that they were headed for another blowout and that the Kings would accommodate another early bail out for Laker regulars.

“There’s always that possibility,” Riley said. “We’ve won four games (very easily), so maybe we got soft when we got that lead. But we can’t do that if we want to win.”

Countered Cooper: “I don’t think so. Sacramento did a much better job against us than those other teams we played. We were due for a close one, and I’m glad we won it.”

Forum fans, who previously had seen the Lakers win by not less than 14 points so far in the young season, probably witnessed more excitement in the final minute Sunday than in all of the previous three home games.

Johnson gave the Lakers a 109-108 lead with 51 seconds left by making two free throws. He was sent to the line after colliding with Eddie Johnson, and Magic turned out to be the Johnson who got the worst of it. Magic received a cut over his right eye and a blow to the right shoulder, but he made both free throws.

The Kings, however, quickly had a chance to reclaim the lead with 27 seconds left when Derek Smith was fouled attempting a baseline jumper. But Smith made just one of the two free-throw attempts, tying the score, 109-109.

After a Laker time out, Johnson took a pass from Cooper and was fouled by Smith while attempting a layup. That sent Johnson to the free-throw line with seven seconds left and Smith to the bench with six fouls.

Johnson made both free throws to give the Lakers a 111-109 lead, prompting a Sacramento timeout. The Kings couldn’t go to Smith, who had scored 26 points in his return to Los Angeles after two seasons as a Clipper. So, they relied on the element of surprise and went to guard Brook Steppe for the potential game-tying shot.

Steppe was bumped by Laker guard Byron Scott while attempting a baseline jumper with five seconds left. He made both free throws, tying it, 111-111.

So, it was up to Johnson to prevent the Lakers from having to work even longer than before in an overtime period.

Even after Johnson sank the 12-footer, the Kings still had a shot--a desperation shot. LaSalle Thompson missed a 30-footer at the buzzer, assuring the Lakers of their fifth straight win after a season-opening loss to Houston.

On a night when the Kings defensive plan was to pressure Abdul-Jabbar (12 points on 4 of 6 shooting) and James Worthy (16 points) in the low post, Johnson responded with a virtuoso performance. He made 12 of 21 shots and had 12 assists in 42 minutes.

Johnson was assisted by Cooper, who contributed 15 points and 7 assists off the bench. Scott scored 22 points, but made only 8 of 18 shots.

If it wasn’t for Kurt Rambis’ 12 rebounds--and Johnson’s 8--the Kings might have dominated the boards even more than the 46-40 edge indicated.

Otis Thorpe was dominate inside, offensively and defensively, scoring 17 points and getting 10 of his 12 rebounds on the defensive end.

Smith, who gave the Kings a scare when he strained his troublesome left knee in the third quarter, made 9 of 16 shots and passed for 10 assists. Steppe, Smith’s backcourt partner, had 24 points and 6 assists.

But even though the Kings made it tough on the Lakers all night, they were not able to break their 12-year losing streak at the Forum. It stands at 31 straight King losses, the last coming on Oct. 20, 1974.