Notebook : Scott’s Foul Problems Took Him Out of Game

Byron Scott, who had averaged 22 points in the first two games of the series, picked Sunday afternoon to have his lowest scoring game of the playoffs.

Scott had just four points and made just two of nine shots, which included five misses from three-point range. Foul trouble--he had three personals two minutes into the second quarter--kept him on the bench for long spells.

“I never got in the flow of it,” Scott said. “It was the same as Game 3 in Seattle. When you get quick fouls and have to sit down for six minutes, it’s hard to get yourself going.”

Magic Johnson (32 points) and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (27 points) combined for 59 of the Lakers’ 103 points. The other three Laker starters, James Worthy (13), Scott (4) and A.C. Green (2) combined for 19.

“I think that puts a lot more pressure on Magic and Kareem,” Scott said. “It was just one of those games where both of us (Worthy and Scott) didn’t hit our shots.”

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The Lakers, who had made 7 of 13 three-pointers in the first two games, were 3 of 11 Sunday. Michael Cooper was 3 of 6.

“We’re not going to win too many ball games relying on 3’s,” said Cooper, observing that the Lakers may have tried to dial long distance too often in the latter stages of the game.

“At times like that, we’ve got to take it to the basket and try to get fouled.”

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Magic Johnson, on Boston’s 80.9% shooting in the second quarter:

“Seventeen for 21? C’mon, that’s poor defense. You can be hot, but that’s super hot. They shot well, but we didn’t do our jobs.”

Said Laker Coach Pat Riley: “Our offense was so good in L.A. that subconsciously, we might have felt that’s what won the game for us.”

Add Riley: On Larry Bird, who scored 30 points, 22 in the first half: “He was shooting horrendous, and I looked at (the box score) at halftime and he’s got 22 points?”

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Larry Bird, who had suggested that some of his teammates seem to play well only in front of their families, was asked if maybe the Celtics should take their families with them to Los Angeles.

“Then you got to take ‘em to Disneyland and pamper ‘em,” Bird said. “But if that’s what it takes, I’ll pay their way out.”

Notes

Laker ballboy Chris Bodaken, a USC undergraduate from South Pasadena, paid his own way to be here. . . . Larry Bird does a local TV ad for Rodman Ford. . . . Celebrities show up here, too: Among the crowd Sunday was Jack Nicholson, who drew a “Go home, Jack” chant, actor Rob Lowe and movie director Spike Lee.