Akeem’s Absence Doesn’t Dull Lakers’ Divac, 116-97

“Bringing Up Vlade,” the heartwarming story of a basketball team and its foreign exchange student from Yugoslavia, entered another phase Sunday.

Vlade Divac scored a season-best 22 points and grabbed 11 rebounds as the Lakers finally put away what remains of the Houston Rockets, 116-97, before 17,164 at the Forum. The Lakers are tiring of this turkey shoot in which the turkeys keep shooting back.

All Divac’s teammates said they were happy for him and that it would be nice if he did this often.

Divac, meanwhile, lamented the fact that Houston’s Akeem Olajuwon was injured and had been unavailable to meet him man-to-man.

“I’m upset because he didn’t play,” Divac said afterward.

Was something being lost in translation?

“I like,” Divac said, “have more edge when I play against Akeem, Patrick Ewing, David Robinson. I want to be the best and I must play against the best.”

Actually, Divac usually plays well against the best, but sometimes gears down against the worst. Or as teammate Byron Scott put it Sunday:

“Some games he comes ready to play. Some games he doesn’t.”

Put Sunday’s down under ready. Divac made nine of 11 shots, had two blocks, a steal, ran the court, brought the ball upcourt several times.

“I’m not a harsh critic of him,” said Magic Johnson, who been a consistent adviser.

“I just tell it like it is--and he’s playing great. We’re going to need him. Right now, he’s the big key. When he plays like he did tonight, we usually win. When he dominated like he did--blocking shots, attacking the boards, running the floor--defensively, they don’t know what to do with us.”

Once more, the Lakers started the evening heavy favorites.

The Rockets were 2-2 since losing Olajuwon, and there appeared to be no need to panic . . . yet.

“I don’t see any need to,” Coach Don Chaney said before the game. “I think this team can hold the fort until Akeem gets back. If not, we’ll make a valiant effort at it.”

That they did. Houston out-rebounded the Lakers, 27-19, and kept itself in the game by sheer effort.

The Lakers, led from the opening tap, which Houston won, followed by new center/veteran forward Larry Smith throwing the ball away. The game was four seconds old. Then the Rockets, aptly named since their selection of shots leans toward launches from 20 feet and beyond, missed their first five attempts.

By the third period, the Lakers had opened an 80-62 lead. The Rockets, unimpressed, went on a 12-0 run. Laker Coach Mike Dunleavy had to hurry Johnson back into the game to put out the fire.

In the fourth quarter, however, the Lakers drew away.

Thus was achieved another landmark in the Americanization of Vlade. Is he progressing? Is he right on schedule?

“This is my second year,” Divac said. “Next season, I must be ready to be leader on the team. Like Magic. Like (James) Worthy.”

They will be thankful for all the help they can get.

Laker Notes

Terry Teagle, showing signs of emerging from his season-long slump, made six of 10 shots and is 13 for 26 in the last three games. “It’s all about getting more and more comfortable,” he said. “I’m beginning to feel like I did at Golden State. I’m not quite there. I have to put good games back-to-back. One game doesn’t mean anything.”

Magic Johnson, the fan’s fan, watched the Raider game from the sidelines, missed a triple-double by one rebound (17 points, 16 assists, nine rebounds) and said thanked the silver and black for inspiring him. . . . Gregory Glenn, 27, of La Mirada made a shot from halfcourt at halftime to win $42,000. This made him the night’s best-paid performer. Magic Johnson’s $3.1 million salary breaks down to $36,585.37 for the game.

Rocket center Akeem Olajuwon will undergo surgery today for a fracture near his right eye. “The doctors are saying (he will be out) two months,” Coach Don Chaney said. “I don’t know if that’s two months before he can work out, or two months before maybe moderate movement. I know when the doctors release him, it’ll take probably another two weeks for him to get his timing and get in shape.” . . . The Lakers have sold out two of their 18 home games. Last season, they sold out 35 of 41. . . . Lakers next: Charlotte at the Forum Tuesday night.