Not So Fast: Rockets Slow the Lakers : Game 3: Houston keeps control in fourth quarter for 114-108 victory. L.A. loses for first time in a best-of-five playoff game.

Fourth quarters usually belong to the Lakers. That is when their level of play soars, when they can arise from even the most daunting of deficits and take control. It has become nearly instinctive, especially at playoff time.

That changed here Tuesday night. The Houston Rockets, tired of falling just short in this first-round series, staved off elimination with a 114-108 victory over the Lakers before 16,611 fans in the Summit.

It was the Lakers’ first loss in a first-round series since the NBA switched to a best-of-five format in 1984. They had won 20 consecutive first-round games, taking the first two from Houston by dominating the fourth quarter.

The opportunity was there again Tuesday. The Lakers began the fourth quarter trailing only 92-90, in good shape considering that they were on the road against an inspired team whose coach, Don Chaney, had “guaranteed” two consecutive victories.

Instead of becoming forceful in the fourth, the Lakers folded. It was neither pretty nor predictable.

In the last quarter, the Lakers made only five of 18 shots and allowed the Rockets to shoot 59%. Magic Johnson, double-teamed all night, attempted only three shots in the quarter, all were failed three-point tries. James Worthy, who had 26 points, made only one of four shots in that span. Those two subdued, no other Laker stepped forward.

As a result, the Rockets put together a 15-5 run in the first 6:29 of the quarter and led, 107-95. The Lakers’ fourth-quarter sluggishness was evident right away, Houston scoring six consecutive points in the first 1:28.

The Lakers did muster their strength and cut the Rockets’ lead to 111-108 with 46 seconds left after Byron Scott’s three-point basket, but they could get no closer.

Typifying the Lakers’ play was a rare five-second violation on Michael Cooper on an inbound play with 23 seconds left and the Lakers trailing by five points. Cooper tried to pass it to Johnson, who was covered, then Scott, also covered. Eventually, he passed to referee Joe Forte, who gave the ball to the Rockets.

Long before that, though, Houston had taken control.

“It was a great game for three periods,” Laker Coach Pat Riley said.

But, about that fourth . . .

“At the top of the period, that 6-0 run gave them life,” Riley said. “We had a hard time getting back in it. We got a little out of sync. We took some long shots, the same shots we hit the last two games to get back in it in the fourth quarter.”

The Rockets, wary after losing a seven-point lead with 7:46 left in Game 2 Sunday, seemed determined to prevent a sequel.

That was evident by the 6-0 run. Akeem Olajuwon, hampered by foul trouble earlier in the second half, began the surge by tipping in Otis Thorpe’s missed jumper. After a turnover by Orlando Woolridge, Sleepy Floyd drove the lane for a basket. Then, after Scott and Worthy failed to connect on a pass, Thorpe completed a fast-break dunk to make it 98-90. Timeout, Lakers.

The Lakers did not score in the fourth quarter until A.C. Green, who had 16 points, sank an 18-foot jump shot.

“We made the run in the fourth quarter like the Lakers made on us,” said Floyd, who had 23 points and a Rocket playoff-record 18 assists. “We turned up the defense a notch, and we responded excellently to the challenge. We showed a lot of character.”

Despite trailing by two points, Laker players said they felt in position to win heading into the fourth quarter. They were at a loss to explain what happened and vowed it would not happen again.

Johnson’s statement: “We just have to play better in the fourth quarter.”

Worthy elaborated.

“We just a had a little mental lapse, and they had three of four quick baskets,” he said. “From that point, we were behind and had to play catch up. Any time you get down at that point in the game, it’s tough.

“We had a couple lapses earlier. When we’d get (the deficit) down to one or two points, we didn’t execute. That’s not like us.”

Game 3 was very unlike the Lakers at several junctures.

They fell behind by 12 points midway through the first quarter--no surprise there--but then rallied to trail by one entering the second quarter. From there, the Lakers cut Houston’s lead to one point three times but failed to overtake the Rockets.

The Lakers’ big break, however, came 26 seconds into the third quarter when Olajuwon received his fourth foul contesting Green on a rebound. Initially, the Lakers seized the chance. Green made both free throws, then sank a jumper 32 seconds later to tie it, 60-60.

The Lakers took their first lead, 62-60, with 10:40 to play on Johnson’s fast-break layup after Worthy stole the ball from Vernon Maxwell. Johnson was fouled on the drive but, as a harbinger of squandered opportunities to come, he missed the free throw.

Still, Olajuwon’s absence was a time the Lakers could exploit the Rockets. Instead, they did their best just to stay close.

Thorpe took over Olajuwon’s low post obligations and hurt the Lakers more than Olajuwon, who finished with 22 points and seven rebounds.

Thorpe quickly erased the last Laker lead of the game--64-63 with 9:46 left in the third--with consecutive three-point plays in a one-minute span. Both were drives inside. He was fouled first by Green, then by Mychal Thompson. Neither could adequately defend Thorpe, 6 feet 10 but quicker than either defender. Thorpe had 10 of his career playoff-high 27 points in the quarter.

“It was very scary being without Akeem,” Chaney said. “Usually, when he’s out, we decline. We were able to buy some time.”

The Lakers considered it an opportunity lost. That wasn’t all that was missing.

Johnson had 17 points and 18 assists, but he made only five of 14 shots. “They doubled me; it was nothing new,” he said. “But everybody else has got to hit the shots, or we’re in trouble. There’s nothing different I can do. Just make the pass. I can’t force it. Other people just got to step on up. We know what they’re trying to do to me. We have to get back to rotating quicker. They got some big second shots (12 offensive rebounds).”

All five Rocket starters reached double figures, all but Buck Johnson scoring at least 20 points. Floyd and Maxwell combined for 49 points.

“We’ll have to look at (Houston’s backcourt) and make adjustments,” Riley said. “We may try something different.”

Riley, asked if the Lakers are capable of winning at the Summit, said, ‘Yes, we can win here.’ ”

A Houston writer asked, “Can you guarantee it?”

“I’ll see you guys tomorrow,” said Riley, walking away.

Laker Notes

A CBS producer said his interview with Akeem Olajuwon, during which the Houston Rocket center said he might ask for a trade, occurred a day before the start of the first-round playoff series, not two months before as Olajuwon later told Houston sportswriters.