Lakers Put Show Back on the Road : They Take Control and Never Let Go in Dallas, 118-93

Road and victory have not been words used together much lately when talking about the Lakers, a disquieting circumstance for a team that had made that phrase a standard part of its vocabulary for so long.

So, having not won a road game outside Los Angeles County since Dec. 13, the Lakers arrived here Sunday afternoon as if on a mission to reclaim the confidence and performance they had lost along the way, like a piece of checked baggage.

They did that and more, actually. The Lakers’ resounding 118-93 victory over the Dallas Mavericks before 17,007 at Reunion Arena and a national television audience may have reversed some of the widespread reports that the two-time defending National Basketball Assn. champions were on the decline.

Not only did the Lakers (29-13) win for only the second time in their last 10 road games--the other triumph coming against the Clippers on Jan. 15--but they also handed the struggling Mavericks their most lopsided home loss in the franchise’s history.

“This may have been the Lakers at our best today,” Magic Johnson said.

It also may have been Dallas at its worst. With leading rebounder Roy Tarpley back in a drug-rehabilitation facility, All-Star guard Rolando Blackman out with a dislocated finger and Mark Aguirre sulking again and requesting a trade, the Mavericks hardly resembled the team that pushed the Lakers to 7 games in the Western Conference finals.

But, as Laker Coach Pat Riley insisted afterward, “I think we had more to do with (the outcome) today than they did.”

Playing without ailing Byron Scott but with a resolve to end their road woes, the Lakers hit the floor running for an 18-8 lead after 5 minutes. They led by 24 points at halftime, 30 early in the third quarter and never let the lead dip below 15 from that point.

The Lakers shot 54.2% from the field, forced Dallas to shoot just 42%, held a surprisingly wide rebounding edge (54-39) and made 6 of 9 shots from 3-point range.

A.C. Green had 25 points and 11 rebounds and Johnson 20 points and 9 assists. Michael Cooper had a season-high 18 points and Tony Campbell 13 as the designated offensive replacements for Scott.

And the nationwide audience also witnessed the gradual resurrection of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who made 8 of 12 shots and finished with 17 points in his last regular-season game in Dallas. It was the seventh straight time that Abdul-Jabbar has scored in double figures.

“We just played great, overall,” Riley said.

It was not without premeditation. The Lakers--or, at least, their coach--had placed immense importance on this game as an opportunity to change their performance and perceptions of them as a road team.

“I think we made a big statement--that we’re back,” said Cooper, who started in place of Scott. “This win gives us a lot of confidence that we can go out on the road and win in places other than the Sports Arena.”

Riley said he had packed a different road philosophy for this trip, which continues Tuesday night in Houston and Wednesday night in Phoenix.

“We really focused on three things while trying to identify some of our road problems,” Riley said. “One was our rebounding efficiency, both offensively and defensively. Our assists on the road were down from 32 to 22, so we wanted to pass the ball more. And, our field goal percentage was way down on the road, so we wanted to get better shots.

“You can’t quick shoot on the road, like at home. It’s a whole different mentality when you’re away from home. Our players were definitely conscious of our road play, and we really wanted to improve on that.”

Because they still are below .500 (11-12) away from the Forum, the Lakers did not pronounce their road problems over and forgotten. But they were encouraged with a dominating effort. “Those struggles aren’t behind us yet,” said James Worthy, who scored just 8 points but led the Lakers with 12 rebounds. “This is only one game. It’s definitely a good start, but those (road) numbers won’t go away. But playing like this today, gives us a lot of confidence.”

Unlike other recent road efforts, the Lakers on Sunday did not lapse into lulls where defensive pressure or points were absent. Even after the Mavericks made a brief run early in the fourth quarter, pulling to within 15 points, the Lakers didn’t falter.

“We’ve been able to get out early against a lot of teams this year, but we haven’t always been able to hold them,” Green said. “We’ve played like quarter horses instead of thoroughbreds lately, but (Sunday) we were able to finish as strong as we started.

“Coach used the fact this game was on national TV to motivate us, but all he really had to do was remind us of the (losses).”

Motivation for Abdul-Jabbar may have come from the pregame ceremony in which Maverick officials presented him with a sculpture of an elephant, made of precious stone and imported from Africa at a cost of $10,000.

On the court, Abdul-Jabbar no longer has proven to be a white elephant for the Lakers. Coming off a season-high 19 points Friday night against Charlotte, Abdul-Jabbar outplayed the Mavericks’ James Donaldson Sunday, sinking several difficult skyhooks.

“I think we all have learned a lesson,” Riley said. “Not to take Kareem for granted, not to shovel the dirt over him. He’s gotten in good condition since his ankle injury (in early December), and dropped his weight to about 260 (pounds). I think he’s back close to where he wants to be.”

Not quite, Abdul-Jabbar said.

“I was fair today,” said Abdul-Jabbar, asked to evaluate his performance. “I’m shooting a lot better. I mean, it at least now looks like my shot. It’s closer to being what I want.”

The Lakers, too, are closer to being at the level to which they are accustomed. They still are 5 games behind last season’s pace, but Abdul-Jabbar’s play has been revived and they finally beat somebody other than the Clippers on the road.

“We’ve got to forget about the road,” Johnson said. “What we have to do is play good basketball. We just wanted to play our game. Do nothing but play Laker basketball.”

Laker Notes

The Mavericks’ recent slide can be seen in their 3 meetings with the Lakers this season. In the season opener for both teams in November, the Lakers beat Dallas by 3 points at Reunion Arena. When they next met last week at the Forum, the Lakers won by 16 points. And now Sunday’s rout. Since beating Boston at home on Dec. 29, improving their record to 17-9 at the time, the Mavericks are 4-10 and are saddled with a 10-game road losing streak. They have the sixth-best record in the Western Conference. “We are trying, but it’s just not coming together,” said guard Derek Harper, who had 14 points. “I think we can get back to (the Lakers’) level, but to do that you have to play together and be more aggressive. It’s not going to be easy.”

The Lakers are 5-6 in games in which Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is honored on his farewell tour. It was the first such ceremony since Dec. 20 in Chicago. Dallas officials gave Abdul-Jabbar the sculpture of the elephant because, in African culture, it is said to “signify dignity, longevity and strength.” Speaking to the crowd, Abdul-Jabbar thanked them for giving him a warm ovation at a game in January, 1983, just after his Bel-Air home was destroyed by fire. “Thank you for reaching out and giving me the ovation when I was at one of the low points of my life,” Abdul-Jabbar said.