Lakers Easily Roll Past SuperSonics, Now Lead Pistons

The Lakers might be studying the standings closer than usual these days--it is, after all, that time of the season--but it can be assumed they are not really fretting over the Seattle SuperSonics, their probable first-round playoff opponent.

Laker thoughts are on the Detroit Pistons, with whom the Lakers are battling for the NBA’s best record, and Western Conference aspirants Portland and Utah.

Sunday night, a 116-94 Laker victory over Seattle enabled them to overtake the Pistons for the league’s best record, put more distance between themselves and the Trail Blazers and, in the process, put the SuperSonics in their place.

The victory, coupled with the Pistons’ third consecutive loss, moved the Lakers (51-16) one game in front of Detroit (51-18) in the quest for home-court advantage throughout the playoffs. Closer to home, the Lakers will take a four-game lead in the loss column over the Trail Blazers--three over Utah--going into Tuesday night’s showdown in Portland. And, of secondary importance, the Lakers beat the SuperSonics for the third consecutive time this season. Barring a drastic shift in the standings between now and late April, the Lakers will play Seattle in the first round. It does not look good for the SuperSonics. The Lakers have beaten them 12 consecutive times in the playoffs and won the three meetings this season by a total of 37 points.

The Lakers were at their best for much of Sunday’s victory, their fourth in a row. They took a 19-point halftime lead, then made 69% of their field goals in the third quarter. The Lakers’ biggest lead was 28 points.

“That was about as good an effort as we’ve had,” Laker Coach Pat Riley said. “You gotta be real strong and alert to (Seattle’s) tactics. This was one of our best games for 48 minutes.”

The victory was the Lakers’ most lopsided since they beat Cleveland by 31 points March 2.

Magic Johnson had another solid game, scoring 18 points. James Worthy scored 14 of his 16 in the first half, and Byron Scott added 17 points, including a three-point basket to open the second half.

Laker reserves were nearly as productive as the starters. Divac had only eight points, but made several impressive moves in the first half. Late in the first quarter, Divac dribbled the length of the court, feigned a pass to Worthy on the right wing, then dunked. Two minutes into the second quarter, Divac executed a difficult reverse dunk one possession after deftly tipping in a miss by Orlando Woolridge.

Woolridge took over in the second half, scoring 12 of his 18 points.

The SuperSonics made only 42.4% of their shots. Rookie Shawn Kemp scored 19 points off the bench, but Xavier McDaniel made only five of 16 shots for 12 points and Dale Ellis attempted only nine shots and had 13 points.

“We could meet them in the first round, and we can’t let them get anything on us,” said Laker guard Michael Cooper, who had 12 points and spelled Scott in guarding Ellis.

The Lakers resisted the temptation to look past Seattle when thinking about future playoff plans. In fact, they were careful not to comment about Detroit’s sudden losing streak or the Trail Blazers’ home loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Sunday night.

“We know where we are,” Riley said. “I’m not going to worry about what (Detroit) and Portland and Utah. The more we take care of ourselves, the better we’ll be. We got the edge now. We’ve got eight tough games--we marked them on the schedule--left. If we take care of our business, we’ll be fine.”

Johnson agreed.

“You always look over there and know how the others are doing,” Johnson said. “But the important thing is us. No matter what the Pistons, Portland and Utah do, we got to take care of ourselves.”

The Lakers, unquestionably, took good care of themselves on this night.

“We took advantage tonight by playing aggressive basketball for 48 minutes,” Scott said. “We played well from start to finish. Once we got into it, we were totally focused.”

Seattle went the first 6 minutes 48 seconds of the game without scoring, missing its first 10 shots. It was partly the Laker defense, partly a SuperSonic habit. In Saturday night’s loss at Phoenix, the SuperSonics went the first 5:51 without scoring.

The Lakers’ lead was 7-0, and then 11-3, before the SuperSonics went on a 7-0 run to pull within one point. But the Lakers scored 17 points in the last 3:36 of the first quarter to take a 28-16 lead into the second quarter.

Riley went with his usual rotation of four reserves and Worthy to start the second quarter, and the Lakers hardly lost a step. By the time A.C. Green replaced Worthy four minutes into the second quarter, the Lakers had a 15-point lead. It expanded to 19 points with 5:21 left after two free throws by Green.

The Lakers held Seattle to 25% shooting in the first quarter and only 46 points at halftime. Laker Notes

The NBA, apparently cracking down on teams that keep players on the injured list who are no longer injured, suggested to the Lakers that they decide to activate or waive rookie forward Mel McCants, sidelined since late November because of sprains in both ankles. So, when reserve center Jawann Oldham’s second 10-day contract expired Sunday, the Lakers chose not to re-sign the 7-foot reserve center and activated McCants.

“The league didn’t say we had to do it,” Laker Coach Pat Riley said. “But they are looking at all the teams with players on the injured list. It’s that time of year. I like Mel’s youth and enthusiasm. He can be a good post player, and we wanted to keep him.” Oldham, whom the Lakers signed on Feb. 5, had played only a total of nine minutes in three games. He scored five points and did not block a shot. Oldham, who underwent major reconstructive surgery on his left knee in March of 1988, had not practiced recently because of a bruised right knee. With Jawann’s (left) knee injury, even though he passed his physical, he had limited mobility,” Riley said. “He’s rehabbed it all year, but there’s still some weakness. I told Jawann that, for the next three of four months, he should work hard on getting the knee in shape and then, if he wants, we’d bring him in for our summer-league team.”

McCants, who had a strained lower back as well as sprained ankles, has been practicing with the Lakers since late December. But he remained on the injured list until Sunday. “My ankles still aren’t 100 percent,” McCants said. “Say that they’re 98%. But I feel good. The hardest thing was working my way back in shape. My back (injury) is not serious.” . . . James Worthy said his lower spasms have not gone away, but have diminished to the point where he can play.

The Lakers are off today and will play at Portland Tuesday night.