Lakers Get Ready for Trip With Victory Over Suns

It is not merely a trip the Lakers will embark on this morning. That would conjure images of a pleasant jaunt back East, replete with tiny umbrellas in drinks on Florida’s beaches, tours of historic sites in Washington and Boston and several brief stopovers in the heartland.

Pat Riley, however, is treating this eight-game, 12-day trip that begins Saturday in Washington like some fervent survivalist preparing for the long haul, not a tour guide promising fun and adventure.

“It’s not a road trip, it’s like one of those outward-bound trips to see if you can get back alive,” the Laker coach said before Thursday night’s 100-96 victory over the Phoenix Suns, sans Kevin Johnson, before 17,257 at the Forum. “It’s going to be tough, to say the least.”

Thursday night’s final home game until after Christmas turned out to be more difficult than expected for the Lakers. With Kevin Johnson out with a hamstring injury, the Suns tried to maintain their swift passing game but, in the end, could not run past the Lakers.

James Worthy, who had his season high against the Suns in November with 35 points, scored 27 points and had 11 rebounds this time. Magic Johnson recorded his third triple-double of the season, the 115th of his career, by scoring 18 points, passing for 12 assists and grabbing 11 rebounds. A.C. Green added 15 points and 11 rebounds, as the Lakers held a 54-41 rebounding edge.

And, off the bench, center Vlade Divac again provided a needed spark. His 16-point effort was one short of matching his season high.

In Kevin Johnson’s absence, the Suns turned to Tom Chambers, who had 25 points, and Dan Majerle, who added 20 as a starter. The Laker defense limited the Suns to 43.4% shooting, and the Lakers shot 41.1%.

It was clear in the second half, after a sluggish first 24 minutes for both teams, that the Lakers were not about to leave town with a loss. Nor were they about to let Phoenix Coach Cotton Fitzsimmons end his personal losing streak at the Forum, which reached 37 games. The streak began in 1974.

If Riley and Laker players are wary (and soon to be weary) of this trip, perhaps it is because he remembers last season’s Eastern swing, in which the Lakers won only two of seven games. Coincidentally, the Lakers were 14-3 and coming off a home victory over Phoenix preceding last season’s trip, too.

This time, however, they vow the results will change.

“You definitely don’t want that to happen again,” Magic Johnson said. “I think we’ve learned from that.”

Part of the Lakers’ confidence comes from the schedule. On this trip, they play both of the NBA’s expansion teams (Orlando and Minnesota) and last season’s new entries (Charlotte and Miami). Also included are stops at Washington, Boston, New Jersey and Chicago. All told, the Lakers play only two teams--the Celtics and Bulls--with better than .500 records.

Another change is that the Lakers now travel on charter, not commercial, flights.

Riley said he will meet with the players today and set a specific goal for the trip, but he indicated that finishing 6-2 would be satisfactory.

“I think you got to be realistic,” Riley said. “Even though a number of the teams we’re playing have (losing records), you can get caught in the travel end of it and all the grind. Plus, Orlando and Minnesota have been tough. But we’re playing .800 ball right now, so if we can go out and come back in the same shape, that will be good.”

Guard Byron Scott, who had 17 points but shot poorly while playing with a slightly sprained left wrist, agreed.

“Mentally, it’s going to be hard,” Scott said. “But when you realistically look at the teams we’re playing --Orlando, Minnesota, Charlotte and Miami-- we should win all those games. No, we will win all of them. So, there’s four (victories). Then, maybe if we split the others. Going 6-2 isn’t bad, but why not 7-1?”

The Lakers’ most pressing problems Thursday turned out to be what to pack for the trip (“both winter and summer clothes,” center Mychal Thompson said) and how to keep motivated against the Suns despite the loss of Kevin Johnson, their point guard and leader.

The Suns, to the pleasure of Fitzsimmons, were nearly as strong without Johnson as with him. It was not until near the end of the third quarter that the Lakers pulled away.