Lakers Rock the 76ers With Easy Win, 111-85

Julius Erving began his last regular-season game in the Forum Sunday by sitting at midcourt in a rocking chair, the Lakers’ gift to the retiring 76er superstar in a touching pregame scene.

Erving might as well have stayed in his seat. The Lakers, not ones to stand on ceremony, went from sentimental to savage, destroying Philadelphia, 111-85, before a sellout crowd of 17,505.

It was the fewest points allowed by the Lakers this season, and the fewest scored by the 76ers, who distinguished themselves by scoring a grand total of 11 points in the second quarter.

Magic Johnson led the Lakers with 28 points, the first time in five games he hasn’t broken 30, but this was also the first time he’s gotten to sit out the entire fourth quarter, too.

The Lakers are 22-6 overall and 13-1 at the Forum after winning their seventh straight game here.

Dr. J’s last house call to what he called basketball’s “Mecca West” was proceeding rather nicely until Charles Barkley stole a pass from Magic Johnson, went in uncontested for a layup, and promptly missed a monster reverse slam.

At the time, the 76ers were leading, 30-25. A couple of moments later, Barkley missed another jam, and just a little later, was on the bench.

Philadelphia scored six points to the Lakers’ 20 in the last 8 1/2 minutes of the half. Barkley, who had 11 points and 10 rebounds at the time, didn’t make another shot from the floor the rest54417155211 below his average.

“Charles’ missed dunk was a momentum-changer,” said Philadelphia Coach Matt Guokas. “Everything went south after that. I’ve said it many times, ‘Just make the layup.’ ”

Barkley, however, was not about to let anyone lay this defeat on him. Asked whether the missed dunk had turned the gamed around, the Round Mound of Rebound retorted:

“I think that’s a bunch of BS. Anyone who thinks that is a (obscenity), all parties included.”

Uh, Charles, Matt Guokas just said the play was a momentum-changer.

“That’s what I just said,” Barkley answered. “Did you get that?”

And just what happened on the jam?

“I think the ball went through and hit me in the head and came back out,” Barkley said.

And where was his head?

“Under the basket.”

He did admit to being embarrassed. “A tough loss,” he said.

“We got murdered.” Coming to Barkley’s defense in the Laker dressing room was Kurt Rambis, who also came off the bench for 22 minutes of solid defense against Barkley and other members of the 76er front line.

“I don’t think that it (the miss) had anything to do with it,” Rambis said.

A moment later, Rambis added: “I wouldn’t call Guokas a (obscenity), either.”

The 76ers, Rambis said: “may have the most talent in the league. But I didn’t say they were a good team.

“I’ve only seen them once, but tonight they played like a bunch of individuals out there.”

Philadelphia shot just 38% for the game, while commiting 24 turnovers. Guard Maurice Cheeks was the high scorer with 17, while Erving made just 3 of 9 shots and finished with six points.

“When you shoot 38%, that’s a fatigue problem,” Rambis said.

Laker broadcaster Chick Hearn said this was the worst 76er team he has seen in the last 10 years.

“We’re not a good outside shooting team right now,” Guokas said. “We have trouble scoring points. And we’re not a good communicating team on the floor, which you need to play good defense.”

The Lakers, meanwhile, are operating at near-peak efficiency. They broke the game open with a 13-0 spurt in the third quarter, when they turned a 58-52 lead into a 19-point bulge, 71-52.

Eight of those points came on breakaway baskets, with Magic Johnson assisting on three of them.

James Worthy had 17 points, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar made 7 of 9 shots for 16 points and had 9 rebounds in 30 minutes. The Laker bench contributed 42 points, with Billy Thompson ending a six-game benching with 9 points, 3 rebounds and an assist in 10 fourth-quarter minutes.

“We’re not at our peak,” Rambis said, “but we’re playing much better than we were at this time last year.

“We’re getting much better effort from a lot of people. A.C. Green is playing excellent, and Magic has kicked his game into another gear.”

Rambis, of course, never has been accused of coming up short in effort. In a span of 20 seconds of the fourth quarter, he was accidentally kicked in the head by Barkley, knocked down under the 76er basket by Barkley, and knocked down near the Laker bench by Erving.

“I was just getting reacquainted with the wood,” Rambis said with a smile. “I wanted to see if it was pine or maple.”