Lakers Stifle Blazers in Stretch, 109-103

In November, after watching the Lakers flatten his team by 27 points, Portland Coach Mike Schuler thought he’d seen a vision of basketball perfection. The way he carried on, you can understand why this week’s Sports Illustrated contains debate as to whether the Lakers are the greatest team ever.

After the Lakers’ 109-103 win over the Trail Blazers Tuesday night in the Forum, Schuler still gives a nod to the Lakers as the “premier” team in the league. But he sounded a cautionary note.

“They’re still on a mission,” he said. “They haven’t lost that goal yet. But they’ve got to be healthy--there’s no doubt about that.

“Look at their record when everybody’s intact--it’s something like 48-5.”

Lately, of course, the Lakers have been about as intact as one of those clown-driven jalopies in a circus. And Tuesday night was no exception. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar rolled his left ankle in the third quarter after colliding with Jerome Kersey of the Trail Blazers. He was able to continue.

Byron Scott, who didn’t collide with anybody, had to call it a night with almost nine minutes left in the fourth quarter and the Lakers ahead by four, 94-90. Scott, who had come out for James Worthy, suddenly felt sharp pains in his neck. Moments later, he left the court for the dressing room, where trainer Gary Vitti treated him for what was described as acute muscle spasms, and after the game he was headed to the hospital for X-rays.

Scott said he had no idea what caused the injury. He held his head at a slight tilt as he tried to pull up his socks.

“I can move it,” he said, “but it hurts.”

The Lakers may have been stung by Scott’s departure, but they stiffened down the stretch, holding the Trail Blazers scoreless for the last 3:27 after Kiki Vandeweghe’s breakaway layup pulled Portland to within one, 104-103.

One of the most unlikeliest of villains--Trail Blazer backup guard Jerry Sichting, booed every time he touched the ball because of his ex-Celtic heritage--missed a short jumper in the lane that could have put Portland ahead.

“It’s something I sort of expected but not to that degree,” Sichting said of his shampoo of boos. “It’s not like I ever hit a game-winning shot against them or anything.”

And Sichting wouldn’t Tuesday night, either. The game’s last basket belonged to Abdul-Jabbar, who followed a driving miss by Magic Johnson with a tough layup, fouling out Kersey at the same time. Abdul-Jabbar made the free throw, making the Laker lead four, 107-103, with 2:04 to go.

Thirteen seconds later, James Worthy knocked a pass away from Vandeweghe, drew a foul, and made both free throws to ensure the Laker win and keep the Trail Blazers from taking their first season series from the Lakers since 1979-80.

Instead, Portland--which had whipped the Lakers by 10 on its floor Saturday night--came away with a 3-3 split, despite another phenomenal game by center Kevin Duckworth. He finished with 24 points--16 in the third quarter, when the Trail Blazers chipped away at a 13-point Laker lead (75-62) to pull within six, 89-83.

But while Portland twice closed within one, as Vandeweghe--who has relinquished his starting spot to Kersey--scored nine points in the fourth quarter and Sichting hit a big three-pointer--the Lakers never relinquished the lead.

“Our defense and our rebounding were exceptional tonight,” said Laker Coach Pat Riley, pointing to the numbers that showed the Lakers holding a 52-37 advantage on the boards after being outrebounded, 48-27, at Portland.

“We haven’t been playing well lately, and at the same time we haven’t been playing hard. When both things are happening, you’re not going to win.”

Especially when guys such as Johnson and Michael Cooper are ailing, too. Cooper’s offense still hasn’t returned--he put up five shots, made just one, and hung his head in embarrassment after putting up an air ball on a three-point attempt.

Johnson, however, registered his 10th triple-double of the season, with 23 points, 13 assists and 11 rebounds. Worthy, who had 16 points in the first half, and Scott, who had 15 before the break, led the Lakers with 25 points apiece.

Scott had been the most indestructible Laker this season: He had started all 75 games and has been averaging 37.9 minutes a game, putting him among the top 10 workhorses in the league.

Last Saturday, he scored just 14 points--his first sub-20 point game in 10 games--and showed signs of fatigue. He came out firing Tuesday night--and also made a spectacular block of a Clyde Drexler drive, for which Drexler later reciprocated--but appears doubtful for tonight’s game in Denver.

“I wish I was faking it,” Scott said. “If I was faking, I’d go into acting. I can turn, but it’s painful, and I don’t want to inflict any more pain on myself.”

Riley said he wasn’t aware that Scott was hurt until he glanced down the bench and noticed a familiar face was missing. But asked if he had reached the stage where he wondered which Laker would fall next, Riley shook his head.

“As long as the injuries aren’t debilitating for an extended time we can shake them,” Riley said. “ . . . That’s the way it goes. You can’t worry about that stuff.”

The way it’s going for the Trail Blazers, especially with the emergence of Duckworth, they are almost certain to give the Lakers something to worry about in the future. Maybe not this spring, but soon.

“In years past I don’t think we had what it took to compete with them,” said Kersey, who had an off-night (4-of-17 shooting). “But I think that has changed now.”