Lakers Let Trail Blazers Off the Hook : Pro basketball: L.A. gives up three-point play with 13.4 seconds left in regulation, then loses in double overtime at Forum, 132-128.

The winning coach straightened his tie and talked about making a statement. The star guard smiled broadly and spoke about how well his team bounced back.

These were not the Lakers responding to another important victory over a Pacific Division rival. No, these were the Portland Trail Blazers enjoying a 132-128 victory over the Lakers in double overtime at the Forum Wednesday night.

“We showed a lot tonight,” Portland Coach Rick Adelman said. “Our guys wouldn’t quit. They wouldn’t give up. This is not the same team you’ve seen before. We don’t care about past history. We’re out to make a statement.”

That statement was clear: The Trail Blazers will not go away, will not fade, in their quest to wrest the division title from the Lakers.

Although losers for only the third time this season at the Forum, the Lakers (35-12) still have a half-game lead over the Trail Blazers (35-13). The teams do not play again until March 27, so the Trail Blazers wanted to leave a lasting impression.

They accomplished that, and more.

“It’s got to give them a tremendous lift,” Laker Coach Pat Riley said of the Trail Blazers. “But it’s going to be a long season. We still have the best record in the league. Let’s keep this in perspective.”

Despite being outrebounded by Portland, 74-52, the Lakers still had several chances to win. Had A.C. Green not fouled Portland guard Terry Porter on what turned out to be a three-point play with 13.4 seconds to play, the Lakers might have escaped with a one-point victory in regulation. Instead, Porter made the layup and the free throw, forcing overtime.

Had the Lakers converted a few open shots, plus two missed free throws by James Worthy, they might not have needed a miracle finish in the final seconds to force a second overtime.

They scored four points in 9.3 seconds, the tying points coming on a layup by Worthy after Portland rookie Cliff Robinson missed two free throws.

And had the Lakers not fallen behind by eight points early in the second overtime, they might not have fallen short after pulling to within two points with 35 seconds to play.

The Trail Blazers, however, did not want to dwell on what the Lakers did not do. They wanted to talk about their first victory against the Lakers in 10 games, including the playoffs, and their first victory at the Forum since 1987.

“We can’t keep meeting like this,” guard Clyde Drexler said. “This is a great win, because it shows we can compete with the best teams. Even though we have a good record, until you beat the Lakers you don’t know if you can beat the best.”

Porter, who had 26 points, made 14 of 15 free throws after missing a crucial free throw in Portland that cost the Trail Blazers a victory over the Lakers eight days ago. Center Kevin Duckworth added 21 points and 15 rebounds, while Drexler had 22 points and Buck Williams had 20 and nine rebounds. The Lakers were led by Magic Johnson’s 33 points and Worthy’s 28.

“It was a great game,” Riley said. “I have no problem with my team’s execution, except that being outrebounded by 20 at home is unconscionable. We have to bounce back strong.”

Leading by as many as eight points early in the second overtime, the Trail Blazers barely withstood another late Laker surge.

The Lakers cut Portland’s lead to 130-128 with 35 seconds left after Worthy’s inside shot. On the Trail Blazers’ next possession, Porter missed an inside shot, and a scramble for the rebound ensued.

After the ball fell out of bounds, a jump ball was called between Orlando Woolridge and Williams with 15 seconds to play.

Portland won the tip, and Porter was fouled with 10.1 seconds to play. Porter made only one shot, for a 131-128 lead.

That gave the Lakers a last chance for a three-point shot with 10.1 seconds left. The best the Lakers could come up with was an off-balance three-point attempt by Larry Drew. It bounced off the rim, and the Lakers fouled Robinson with 3.5 seconds left.

Robinson made only the second free throw, but it gave Portland an four-point lead. However, given the Lakers’ comeback in the final seconds of the first overtime, even that lead was not safe.

Portland appeared to have it won in the first overtime, leading 117-113 with 12.4 seconds left after two Duckworth free throws. After a timeout, the Lakers quickly scored when Mychal Thompson laid the ball in with 9.3 seconds left.

The Lakers fouled Robinson with 8.4 seconds left. Robinson missed both shots. After the second miss, there was a scramble for the loose ball.

Drew retrieved the ball and eventually it went to Worthy streaking through the lane for a dunk with 2.1 seconds left to tie the score, 117-117. The crowd was so loud that the Trail Blazers couldn’t hear Adelman’s call for a timeout.

The referees stopped play, and Portland was given a final chance. But Drexler’s shot from the corner missed, forcing a second overtime.

The Lakers had a double-figure lead early in the fourth quarter before the combination of cold Laker shooting and the Trail Blazers’ running game turned it into a close game.

Kersey’s first three-point basket of the season with 2:51 to play in regulation tied the score, 95-95. Less than a minute later, Portland took its first lead on Kersey’s fast-break dunk.

It looked, however, as if the Lakers regained control after a free throw and then a three-point play by Johnson gave them a 100-97 lead with 1:16 to play.

Then came the frantic final minute, when Portland pulled to within 102-101 with 20 seconds left when Porter made a pair of free throws.

The Trail Blazers immediately fouled Scott after the Lakers’ inbounds pass. Scott made both shots for a 104-101 Laker lead with 18 seconds left.

But the Lakers couldn’t hang on.

Porter’s slashing drive on the left baseline beat two defenders and he was fouled by Green as his scoop shot banked off the rim and in the basket with 13.4 seconds to play.

Porter made up for his crucial missed free throw against the Lakers in Portland by completing the three-point play for a 104-104 tie. The score remained tied after Scott’s last-second attempt failed.

“We just made some mistakes,” Johnson said. “We had the game won. We didn’t execute when it was winning time. We didn’t make the plays. They (the Trail Blazers) are here. We know they are for real and are going to challenge us all year.”