Abdul-Jabbar Has Time to Rest on His Laurels : He Plays Only 28 Minutes, Scoring 28 Points, but It’ll Be Different in Denver

Who was that man with the goggles leading the Laker fast break Saturday against the Denver Nuggets?

James Worthy? Nope, guess again.

Why, it was center Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, at 40 the oldest player in the National Basketball Assn.

Abdul-Jabbar scored 28 points, just 2 under his 1986-87 season high, as the Lakers beat the Nuggets, 139-127, at the Forum to take a 2-0 lead in their best-of-five NBA playoff series.

The Lakers can sweep the series with a win Wednesday night in Denver, but Kareem isn’t looking forward to playing in the Mile High City. Abdul-Jabbar missed his first seven shots the last time the Lakers played there.

“The altitude (in Denver) is worth 15 points,” Abdul-Jabbar said. “I don’t like playing there because I can’t sleep at that altitude.”

But Abdul-Jabbar helped put the Nuggets to sleep Saturday.

Kareem played just 25 minutes, sitting out the fourth period. He made 8 of 13 shots from the floor and all 12 of his free throws. He also had 6 rebounds, 4 blocked shots and 3 assists.

“It shouldn’t surprise anyone the way he (Abdul-Jabbar) played,” said Laker forward James Worthy. “He has it down to a science.”

Abdul-Jabbar, who scored 13 points and grabbed 7 rebounds as the Lakers embarrassed the Nuggets by 33 points in the opening game of the series Thursday, seemed to be more active against Denver on Saturday.

He scored 15 points in the first half, hitting 5 of 6 shots and all 5 of his free throws as the Lakers took an 18-point lead at halftime.

Abdul-Jabbar added 13 points in the third quarter before leaving the game.

If Saturday’s game was any indication, Abdul-Jabbar, who has said previously that he will retire after next season, should think about extending his career a few more years.

“I don’t know how much longer I could play,” said Abdul-Jabbar, the first player to compete in the NBA playoffs for 16 seasons. “I’m tired of waking up at 4:30 in the morning and going to some city I don’t want to go to. The drudgery of the season is just too much. It’s tough on the rookies, so you know I’ve had enough.”

The Lakers, who blew away the Nuggets Thursday night, seemed to have trouble putting Denver away Saturday.

“I think we didn’t lack any intensity,” Abdul-Jabbar said. “It was just a situation where they (the Nuggets) made a better effort and a few more things went their way, and we didn’t get a 30-point lead.

“They’re the type of team that’s explosive. We’ve got to keep making an effort.”

Said Denver Coach Doug Moe: “I think Kareem could get 28 points whenever he wants. We played better, but these two games turn my stomach.”

Laker guard Byron Scott said: “He (Abdul-Jabbar) was more aggressive offensively. He went to the line 12 times, so he was more aggressive.”

Magic Johnson added: “I think he wanted to come in and take over. He knows we need him more in the playoffs.”

And Laker forward A.C. Green said: “We just wanted to go to whoever was open. We wanted to go at their big guys and get them in foul trouble early.”

However, Danny Schayes, the Nuggets’ backup center, said Abdul-Jabbar got a little help from the officials.

Schayes came into guard Abdul-Jabbar after Blair Rasmussen, the Nuggets’ starting center, picked up two quick fouls for the second consecutive game.

Schayes finished with five fouls and he also drew a technical foul in the third period.

“It’s difficult to guard him (Abdul-Jabbar) when the refs don’t call anything on him and everything on you,” Schayes said.

“They were going to him (Abdul-Jabbar) more, but I’d say we played a part in that. We did a good job of slowing down their break and, as a result, they spent more time in their half-court game, which opens up more opportunities for him.”

Asked if the officials were protecting Kareem, Rasmussen said: “I really don’t want to say anything because I don’t want to get myself in trouble.”

Said Abdul-Jabbar: “Those type of fouls today were obvious. I thought they tried to play more physical. It wasn’t easy, but we are playing well.

“They did try and be more aggressive. But we kept taking it to the hoop and they kept reaching for it. It was that or give us layups.”