Scott Takes Seat as Lakers Take a Defeat, 112-95 : Pro basketball: Los Angeles guard sidelined by aggravated hamstring injury. Olajuwon has 27 points in Rockets’ victory.

Byron Scott, as usual, was introduced with the Laker starters here Tuesday night. He exchanged handshakes with teammates and was about to remove his sweats when trainer Gary Vitti intervened.

Unbeknown to the 16,611 fans at the Summit, Scott was trying to play despite aggravating an injury to his left hamstring during a practice Tuesday morning.

What ensued was a brief conversation between player and trainer, the results of which ultimately contributed to the Lakers’ 112-95 loss to Akeem Olajuwon and the Houston Rockets.

Vitti: “Can you play without making the hamstring worse?”

Scott: “I can’t guarantee it.”

Vitti: “I don’t want you to play.”

That quickly, it was decided that Scott, who had started the previous 56 games, would sit. Not long after that, the Rockets established control, handing the Lakers (43-14) their worst defeat since they lost to the Clippers by 17 points in January.

Although Scott’s unexpected absence did throw off the Lakers’ game plan, his presence would not have made a difference in many areas Tuesday.

Scott could not have helped contain Olajuwon, who had 27 points, 14 rebounds and eight blocked shots. It was not Scott’s absence that accounted for the Rockets’ 56-38 edge in rebounding. Maybe Scott’s loss affected the team’s 39.8% shooting from the field, but it was more a case of other Lakers not compensating.

The loss reduced the Lakers’ Pacific Division lead to 3 1/2 games over the Portland Trail Blazers, who defeated the New York Knicks. The Lakers remain only percentage points ahead of the Detroit Pistons for the NBA’s best record, which determines home-court advantage throughout the playoffs.

Of more long-term concern to the Lakers is the condition of Scott’s hamstring.

Scott said he felt pain in his hamstring while running in a drill at the Summit Tuesday morning.

Vitti decided not to risk aggravating the injury.

“He wanted to play, but he couldn’t look me in the eye and say he was fine, so I decided he shouldn’t go,” Vitti said. “It’s a minor strain, but we don’t want it to become major. We’ve got to look out for more than just this game.”

Scott said Tuesday was the second time this season he has aggravated his left hamstring, which he originally injured during the NBA Finals in June. In early January, Scott again felt some pain, prompting him to sit out several practices but not any games. Scott said Laker doctors warned him that his hamstring, once torn, would always be susceptible to reinjury.

So, Tuesday’s decision was more precautionary.

“I don’t hurt all that bad,” Scott said. “I had a nice twinge (in the hamstring) today. During some drills, I felt it tighten up. With the season this close to the end and the playoffs coming up, they didn’t want to risk it. It hasn’t been a problem most of the season. (Doctors) told me there will be times when the hamstring will be real sore because of fatigue and overwork. This is one of those times.”

The Laker players knew of Scott’s condition. But once he warmed up, they figured he would play. Then it was announced that Michael Cooper would take his place.

“I was surprised,” Cooper said. “I thought everything was going well. Then, we go back in the huddle and Riles (Coach Pat Riley) tells me I’m starting. All of a sudden, I have to think like a starter.”

Riley gave the Rockets credit for the victory, comparing Olajuwon’s recent dominant play to “Superman,” and saying the Rockets never allowed the Lakers even to be competitive.

“We played the poorest we have all season,” Riley said. “The Rockets had a lot to do with that.”

But Riley did not need much prompting to admit that Scott’s last-minute deletion had an effect.

“We were not in the right frame of mind to play,” Riley said. “That’s very unusual for us. (Scott’s absence) might have stung us a little. He had a severe injury last season, and he has been feeling pain. We just didn’t want to take any chances.”

The Rockets, winners of four in a row, did not give the Lakers a chance to come back. Houston had leads of 6-0 and 24-9 in the first quarter and the Lakers had to fight to cut the deficit to 63-49 at halftime.

A big Laker push in the third quarter cut the deficit to 79-71 with 1:11 to play, but that was as close as the Lakers came.

“If Akeem keeps playing like Superman, they are on their way,” Riley said. “They’ve got something good going.”

And if the Lakers are without Scott even for a little while, it seriously affects them.

“Byron makes up about 25% of our offense,” Cooper said.

Added James Worthy, who had 18 points and nine rebounds: “Not only offense, but Byron is a big part of our defensive patterns. It shouldn’t affect us to lose one guy. We’ve got to make the mental adjustment if it happens again.”

Vitti labeled Scott questionable for tonight’s game at Dallas. He will receive treatment on his hamstring again today and have another question-and-answer period with Vitti before tonight’s game.

“If I had my way,” Scott said, “I wouldn’t be taking off any games.”

Laker Notes

Magic Johnson led the Lakers with 27 points. . . . The Rockets put six players in double figures. In addition to Akeem Olajuwon’s 27 points, Buck Johnson had 16 points and nine rebounds and Sleepy Floyd 17 points and 12 assists.

Jawann Oldham, 7-foot journeyman center, joined the Lakers for Tuesday’s game. Oldham said that his left knee, which underwent major reconstruction in March, 1988, is stronger after a 10-week rehabilitation program at the University of Washington. After Oldham, waived by the Sacramento Kings after training camp, failed a Laker physical in November, he worked to strengthen his left knee. “I went home to Seattle and did rehab,” Oldham said. “It was everything from aquatics to running stadium stairs to weight training.”

Oldham played for Santa Barbara of the Continental Basketball Assn. for 15 games before being signed by the Orlando Magic. He was waived by the Magic and signed to a 10-day contract by the Lakers for the specific purpose of shot-blocking and defense. “I’m very happy to be here, and it’s a matter of taking each day of the 10 like it’s my last,” Oldham said.

Oldham’s addition leaves the Lakers with four centers. The move surprised veteran reserve Mark McNamara, now the club’s fourth-string center. “The Lakers made a concerted effort to tell me (Oldham’s signing) was no reflection on me,” McNamara said. “They said they did it because Mychal (Thompson) is always hurt and because they got a little scared when Vlade (Divac) got hurt (bruised right knee) last week. They said it wasn’t going to affect my playing time.”

Magic Johnson says he will retire after the 1992-93 season, even if he still is at the top of his game. “That’ll be it,” Johnson said. “It’ll just be time to go. I don’t know what’s going to happen in terms of my skills. Fourteen years (of playing in the NBA) is a long time. Maybe it’s time to do something else.”