One in a Row Has the Suns Rising in West, 104-102 : Game 1: Phoenix ends its 21-game Forum losing streak by defeating Lakers in Western Conference semifinal opener.

A Forum victory, which had eluded the Phoenix Suns for so many years, was not easily earned Tuesday night. They fought deficits and demons from the past. And they had several chances to fold, but, for once, it was the Lakers who succumbed.

With a 104-102 victory over the Lakers in Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinal series, the Suns ended a 21-game Forum losing streak dating to 1984 and Coach Cotton Fitzsimmons’ personal 37-game streak dating to 1974.

More important, the Suns snatched away the Lakers’ home-court advantage in this best-of-seven series, which resumes Thursday night at the Forum.

“It was destined,” Fitzsimmons said. “We were supposed to win this game. . . . These guys won’t give up. They believe in each other.”

Fitzsimmons, who has always hated talking about his habitual losing at the Forum, was not so much referring to the streak as he was to the Suns’ composure in turning back the Lakers.

Still, extraordinary measures seemed necessary if the Suns were going to win at the Forum, and center Mark West responded by playing extraordinarily.

Neglected by the Laker defense, which concentrated on harnessing point guard Kevin Johnson and harassing Tom Chambers and Eddie Johnson, West was free to roam inside. He made 10 of 17 shots to score 24 points, 15 above his playoff average. He also grabbed 16 rebounds and blocked seven shots.

Had West asserted himself as he did Tuesday, the Suns might have ended this losing streak before it reached the ‘90s.

“It just feels like another game,” West said. “We don’t concentrate on streaks or anything like that, but I will say this was a huge win for us.”

However, Phoenix forward Kurt Rambis, who had helped the Lakers perpetuate the streak for years, said the Suns’ reaction was far from blase.

“You should have seen this place (the locker room) when we ran in here,” Rambis said. “It was a big win. We got the monkey off a lot of players’ and the coach’s backs. It was just super, but it was just one game.”

Still, the Suns showed they have the ability to dominate the Lakers, who swept them in four games in the playoffs last season.

“This has happened to us before,” Laker forward James Worthy said. “Obviously, we’re dissatisfied. But this is a seven-game series. We’ll be back Thursday.”

The series might not last seven games if the Lakers continue to play as inconsistently as they did Tuesday, blowing an eight-point fourth-quarter lead.

The Lakers made only four of 19 shots in that quarter, because of poor shot selection and intense Phoenix defense. The Suns held the Lakers without a basket in the final 3:40. And neither Worthy nor Byron Scott scored in the final quarter.

“We failed to execute in the fourth quarter,” said Worthy, who finished with 22 points. “We also quick-shot the ball. We didn’t work for the best shot. We kind of played randomly on offense.”

The Lakers’ fourth-quarter advantage fell from eight points to three before Eddie Johnson snapped out of his cold streak by sinking a three-point basket to tie it, 96-96, with 4:33 to play. Although the Lakers would quickly regain the lead, they eventually lost it.

Orlando Woolridge scored the last Laker basket on a jump shot with 3:40 left for a 101-98 L.A. lead.

Handed repeated chances, the Suns responded. Kevin Johnson, held in check most of the game, countered by sinking a jumper. Then, after an exchange of failed possessions, Eddie Johnson sank a jumper with 1:56 to play for a 102-101 Phoenix lead with 1:03 to play.

The Lakers still had plenty of time to fashion another comeback, but Mychal Thompson was called for a three-second violation while waiting for Magic Johnson’s pass. That gave the Suns the ball, and Kevin Johnson made one of two free throws with 1:23 left for a 103-101 lead.

On their next possession, the Lakers went to Worthy. His running jumper across the lane barely hit the rim, giving the Suns possession.

Phoenix eventually gave it back to the Lakers, but not after getting rebounds of two missed shots. Only 14 seconds remained when Worthy finally rebounded Eddie Johnson’s third miss.

After another Laker timeout, the Lakers got the ball to Magic Johnson, who eventually found Worthy on the right wing. With Chambers covering, Worthy drove to the right baseline and, with Kevin Johnson running at him, Worthy flung an air ball.

The Suns’ West grabbed the rebound and was fouled with five seconds left. He made only one of two free throws, giving the Suns a 104-101 lead. Magic Johnson was fouled, made one free throw, and it was over.

It was fitting, perhaps, that West scored the final point for the Suns, since he made his point to the Lakers all game.

“We didn’t count on (West) performing like that,” Magic Johnson said. “We didn’t think he’d put up those numbers. We knew he could get some blocked shots, but not that many points. They played an all-round great game.”

The Lakers actually did a creditable job on Chambers, who had a game-high 26 points but made only 10 of 26 shots, and Eddie Johnson, who made only four of 12. Scott, with help from the Lakers’ big men, limited Kevin Johnson to nine points and 12 assists.

Defense made the difference for Phoenix. Worthy, guarded by Rambis, made only nine of 26 shots. Magic Johnson, ably guarded by Hornacek and Majerle, had 22 points but made only four of 14 shots.

“We found out one or two guys can’t beat the Lakers,” Kevin Johnson said. “We need everybody to contribute. We played these guys last year, and now we’re more familiar with the Forum and the playoffs.”

And now they finally know what it feels like to win in Inglewood.

Laker Notes

Cotton Fitzsimmons’ last victory in the Forum came on Feb. 17, 1974. He was coaching the Atlanta Hawks. . . . Eddie Johnson, the normally affable Sun forward, has taken a vow of silence during the playoffs in order to better concentrate on his shooting. Johnson temporarily broke the vow after last Sunday’s series-clinching victory over the Utah Jazz, and he told Phoenix writers he will talk only after the Laker series.