While Teammates Fiddle, Magic Burns the Bullets

A Laker letdown could have been understood, if not tolerated, Sunday night. A five-game home stand was ending, a five-day break beckoned and only the Washington Bullets were left to beat.

Magic Johnson, however, would not permit it.

While other Lakers drifted in and out of action and sometimes seemed victims of eye-glaze, Johnson appeared focused and intent on making it an undefeated home stand and improving the Lakers’ record to an NBA-best 8-1 in a 120-115 victory over Washington.

Earning his second triple-double of the season--the 114th overall--Johnson scored 25 points, had 14 assists, grabbed 10 rebounds and seemed to handle the basketball almost exclusively in the fourth quarter to lead the Lakers before 17,505 at the Forum.

“It may not have been a masterpiece, but every win is some type of work of art,” Laker Coach Pat Riley said.

Johnson, with occasional help in a substitute role from Vlade Divac and an important three-point basket by Byron Scott, kept the Lakers’ sluggishness at a minimum and stopped the persistent Bullets from making a serious run in the second half.

To win Sunday, the Lakers had to withstand the Bullets’ physical, defense-minded style and constant-motion offense. Unable to keep an advantage of more than 11 points--but never losing the lead altogether--the Lakers persevered. That is the best you could say of them Sunday.

The closest Washington--concluding a grueling six-game-in-eight-days trip--came to catching the Lakers was with 2:06 to play when they pulled to within 113-110. But Scott, who finished with 19 points, sank a three-point shot from the right baseline. The Laker lead did not sink below six points the rest of the way, even though they made just two baskets in the final 6:30.

Divac provided a lift for the Lakers in the second and fourth quarters. He scored 11 points and had six rebounds in the second quarter and added five points in a 50-second stretch midway through the fourth quarter.

“For me, no problem,” Divac said. “I like (coming off) the bench. It is very good.”

Divac, who had a season-high 17 points, has been so productive in a substitute role that Riley says he entertains no thoughts of putting the talented Yugoslavian in the starting lineup.

“The fact he’s playing well off the bench is a big plus,” Riley said. “He gives us something. If you put him in the starting lineup, you don’t get that. This rotation is working.”

John Williams, a former Crenshaw High School star, had 24 points to lead the Bullets. Jeff Malone, coming off a bout with the flu, also had 24 points, and Ledell Eackles had 22 in a sub role.

James Worthy had 19 points. Mychal Thompson, the starting center, had 13 points and 10 rebounds.

Worthy, as he usually does, put Sunday’s victory and the Lakers’ 8-1 start in perspective.

“Sometimes, our intensity falls,” said Worthy, shrugging. “It’s all about maintaining it. But we’re happy with what we’ve done. We’ve got to be satisfied with it.”

Laker Notes

Orlando Woolridge, who had arthroscopic surgery on his right knee on Oct. 17, has been running straight ahead as part of his rehabilitation. He was expected to be examined by Laker doctors before Sunday night’s game. Woolridge’s return date still has not been determined. “I don’t think I’m that far away,” Woolridge said.

The Lakers next game will be Saturday night against the Utah Jazz in Salt Lake City. Coach Pat Riley and Laker players say they welcome the break. “At least, it’s not 11 (days),” said Riley, referring to the break between the end of the exhibition and start of the regular season. “We used to have a lot of four-day breaks, and we’d be all right. I think we can use (practice) this week. We need some real solid practices. We have to get back to some of our pressure defense principles and work on our offense.”