Rockets Play Sampson and Can’t Cut It : Magic Leads the Lakers to an Easy 111-96 Victory

Ralph Sampson, who had missed the Houston Rockets’ last 27 games after undergoing arthroscopic surgery on his left knee on Feb. 5, returned to action Tuesday night against the Lakers.

But not even Sampson was strong enough to stop the Lakers.

Guard Magic Johnson recorded his seventh triple-double of the season as the Lakers dumped the Rockets, 111-96, before a sellout crowd of 17,505 fans at the Forum.

Magic had 21 points, 13 assists and 10 rebounds as the Lakers won their third straight.

After losing their season opener to the Rockets at Houston, the Lakers have beaten Houston four straight times.

“Winning the season series against this team means absolutely nothing,” Laker center Kareem Abdul-Jabbar said. “A quick look back to last year pretty much explains the reasoning.”

The Rockets, who used a twin-tower offense to eliminate the Lakers from the playoffs last season, employed a one-tower offense Tuesday night.

Center Akeem Olajuwon and Sampson didn’t play together as Coach Bill Fitch decided to bring Sampson back slowly. Sampson gave Olajuwon a rest at center twice during the game. Sampson didn’t play forward at all against the Lakers.

“He (Sampson) was a little tentative,” Laker Coach Pat Riley said. “Once he gets back, they are going to be trouble. He needs a few games under his belt. He presents a whole different set of problems, as we found out last year.

“Houston--they tore our hearts out last year and we’re never going to let that happen again. The last three games have been three of our best defensive games of the season. We’re using our quickness and we’re closing people out. It’s about as good as we can play.”

Sampson, wearing a black rubber brace on his left knee, entered the game with 3 minutes and 3 seconds remaining in the first period. He seemed to favor his injured leg.

Sampson immediately hit his first shot and set up the Rockets’ final two baskets of the opening period.

He wound up grabbing five rebounds and passing off for two assists in a five-minute stint in the first half.

Sampson finished the game with 4 points, 6 rebounds and 3 assists in 11 minutes.

“I think he did some good things,” Fitch said of Sampson. “Those were the only pluses we had tonight. You could put our pluses on microfilm and our minuses on the big film.

“When he (Sampson) was out there and got those five rebounds in five minutes was the only time we were able to run. He’s not ready to play and do all the lateral things that he does.

“I’m glad that we’ve got 23 days left until the playoffs, that’s a training camp. I’ve had some teams that have been horrible with 23 days left in camp and came out pretty good, so I’m happy with those 23 days.”

Said Sampson: “It didn’t hurt tonight, but I’m going to wait until tomorrow to see how stiff and sore it is. Your skills bounce back faster than anything else will.

“I’m not 110% yet, but I’m not worried about it. A few more games and I’ll be there.”

Said Olajuwon of Sampson: “It’s nice to have him back. Being his first game, I think he did very well. I think he has to get a couple more games then he’ll be in great shape.”

Olajuwon hasn’t played well against the Lakers in his last two games. He had a season-low 10 points in last Saturday’s 123-109 loss to the Lakers.

And he scored just 11 points and grabbed 14 rebounds in Tuesday night’s rematch. Olajuwon made just 5 of 17 shots from the field.

“Every time I get the ball they’ve got guys coming at me,” Akeem said.

Fitch said that Olajuwon is playing tired. “That’s what happens when you get a player who is a physical player like Akeem and not an experienced pro,” Fitch said.

Magic said: “I don’t know what’s going to happen now that Ralph is back. I’m sure they’ll play a lot better.

“They were rolling along last year and they played real well as a team. But now they’re playing inconsistent and we’re playing well.

“You can tell he’s hurt. But I’m sure that the leg will get stronger as he keeps playing on it.

“They might be different, but the Lakers are definitely different, too.”

The Lakers had six other players besides Magic in double figures.

Guard Byron Scott added 20 points, and James Worthy had 17 points and 6 rebounds.

Abdul-Jabbar scored 16 and Mychal Thompson 14. A.C. Green and Michael Cooper each had 10 points.

Robert Reid and Jim Petersen led the Rockets with 16 points apiece. Rodney McCray added 15.

Laker Notes The Lakers leave today for a three-game trip. They play at Seattle Thursday, at Portland Friday and face Denver Sunday. . . . Navy star David Robinson, who is in Los Angeles for today’s announcement of the John Wooden award, attended the game. He sat in courtside seats that are owned by Clipper President Alan Rothenberg. UCLA star Reggie Miller also watched the game. Robinson and Miller were guests in the Laker locker room afterward. . . . Houston Coach Bill Fitch on newspaper reports that the club is trying to acquire former NBA star George Gervin, who is playing in Italy: “All I know is what I read in the papers. I’ve heard that his season is over, but my guy in (Italy) said that he’s still playing.” . . . The Lakers’ magic number for clinching the best record in the Western Conference is two (Laker wins/Dallas losses). The Lakers need either five wins or five Boston losses to clinch the best record in the league and assure themselves of the home-court advantage throughout the playoffs.

Phoenix Sun general manager Jerry Colangelo was fined an undisclosed amount by the NBA for prompting a public address announcer into making an “intimidating announcement” during a March 24 game at Phoenix against the Lakers. Rod Thorn, league vice president of operations, said that his investigation revealed that Colangelo ordered Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum announcer Stan Richards to announce midway through the first quarter that “the Suns have eight fouls, the Lakers have none.” As the crowd booed officials Mike Lauerman and Ed Middleton, Lauerman raced over to Richards and screamed: “Don’t think the NBA office won’t hear about this.” Richards was not fined.