Lakers Pass Road Test Against Houston, 125-114 : Team Gets Third Straight Victory Away From Home

If there is anything that Laker Coach Pat Riley detests on the road, it is the potential for distractions. Such unscheduled road hazards as canceled flights and broken-down buses can result in what Riley calls a loss of focus.

Well, moments before tipoff here Tuesday night, all Laker eyes were focused on Morganna, the self-dubbed Kissing Bandit. She ran onto midcourt and planted a kiss on Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s cheek.

Before, during and after that antic, however, the Lakers were never more attentive. Putting to rest any lingering doubts of their ability to win on the road, the Lakers handed the Houston Rockets a 125-114 loss before a crowd of 16,611 in the Summit.

It was the Lakers’ third straight road victory, after enduring a much-publicized eight-game road losing streak earlier in the month. They will leave Texas today having beaten the Dallas Mavericks and Rockets.

What they will remember most, judging from the post-game locker-room banter, was their encounter with the self-promoting Morganna, who has made a career of making public displays of affection to unsuspecting athletes. After kissing Abdul-Jabbar, Morganna pecked the cheek of Rocket backup center Chuck Nevitt.

“It was a very pleasant kind of surprise,” Abdul-Jabbar said. “I pinched myself. I didn’t know it was real. I thought she was a baseball fan.”

Although aware of Riley’s mandate to increase their concentration and resolve on the road, Laker players said they could not help noticing Morganna. “No, I don’t think Morganna made us lose our focus,” guard Michael Cooper said.

Despite the distraction, the Lakers were a sight to behold Tuesday night.

Continuing their inspired play from Sunday’s nationally televised victory over Dallas, the Lakers easily handled the Rockets for the second time in two weeks. Only this victory came on the road, a significant achievement for the previously struggling Lakers, who improved to 12-12 away from the Forum.

Among the highlights:

--Cooper, once again filling in capably for the ailing Byron Scott, made four shots from three-point range and finished with 16 points, five assists and three steals.

--Magic Johnson got his 12th triple-double of the season, totaling 17 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists.

--The forward tandem of A.C. Green and James Worthy combined for 47 points and 13 rebounds, and holding counterparts Otis Thorpe and Purvis Short to a combined 16 points and 10 rebounds. --The Laker bench, rarely called upon and even more rarely a factor, contributed 39 points and helped produce an 11-5 run early in the second quarter to give the Lakers a 13-point lead.

All told, this had to rate as one of the Lakers’ most impressive victories, coming on the road against a team generally regarded as a threat to their perch atop the Western Conference.

The Lakers, whose fast break resulted in a 54% shooting mark, held the Rockets to 49% from the field. They outrebounded the Rockets, 48-27, and contained center Akeem Olajuwon, who finished with 25 points and 11 rebounds.

Riley, however, was most pleased with the Lakers’ mental approach.

“Obviously, we came prepared to play again, just like (at Dallas),” Riley said. “You’ve got to have that attitude on the road. You’ve got to start fast, and not have any lapses. Their attitude the last two games as like we used to have.”

The only Laker lull to speak of came in the final five minutes of the first half, when they nearly lost the 13-point point their second unit provided. But a 24-6 run at the start of the second half put away the Rockets and put to rest any of Riley’s worries.

“We’re winning on the road again, and the reason is that we’re mentally prepared for the games,” said Worthy, whose 23 points complemented Green’s 24 points. “We’ve emphasized working harder on rebounding and defense, and it showed again tonight.”

Another factor in the Lakers’ revival has been the vastly improved play of Cooper, who has thrived as a starter. He had a season-high 18 points against Dallas and made four of six shots from three-point range against the Rockets.

For Cooper, whose shooting percentage has hovered in the low 40s most of the season, found himself alone with the ball, as the Rockets chose to double-team Johnson and Worthy.

“I don’t take it as a show (of disrespect),” Cooper said. “I’m just the only guy they can leave alone if they want to double-team somebody. They can’t leave A.C. alone, because he’s under the basket. They certainly don’t want to leave James or Kareem alone. So, I’m the guy.” Cooper was a catalyst in the Lakers’ impressive third-quarter run. Leading, 63-61, at halftime, the Lakers quickly scored the first two baskets of the second half on Johnson’s fast-break layup and a Worthy jump shot.

After Olajuwon made a jumper, Cooper struck. He made a three-point shot with 10:24 to play, then added another 30 seconds later to give the Lakers a 10-point lead. As the Laker surge continued, Green scored eight points en route to making seven of eight shots. And Cooper later added a third three-point basket in the quarter to do in the Rockets.

Not quite as impressive, but certainly as important, was Cooper’s third-quarter defense against Rocket guard Sleepy Floyd, who led all scorers with 37 points. Floyd, who also made four three-point shots, was held to only four points in the third quarter.

Cooper said starting at off-guard, as opposed to coming off the bench as a point guard, better suits his game.

“It relieves a lot of pressure,” Cooper said. “It frees me up to do more on defense and roam around more on offense. I feel a lot better shooting (the three-point shot) now. I’m not hesitating anymore. I’m just letting it go. I feel confident, feel good.

“I think we’re all more focused. It’s nothing Coach Riley has to say. It’s just our attitude now. We are relaxed, and we know we can win anywhere.”