Lakers Breathe a Sigh of Relief : Pro basketball: After Orlando takes 25-15 lead, L.A. dominates second half with its own Magic and cuts Portland’s margin to 1 1/2 games with 115-101 victory.

The Lakers, their sights ordinarily set straight ahead, were forced to take a quick look over their shoulders Friday night because someone was gaining on them for a change.

The Orlando Magic, coming off an impressive road performance, was gunning for bigger prey this time and in prime position to get it. For nearly three quarters, they had the hosts backpedaling.

But after one big exhale at the end, the Lakers were back on course, beating the Magic, 115-101, before 17,326 at the Forum. They still were breathing down Portland’s collective necks, a Trail Blazer loss in Philadelphia cutting the lead by another game to 1 1/2.

The Lakers’ Magic Johnson finished with 26 points, nine assists, eight rebounds and a few other plays that didn’t show up in the stats.

“The biggest thing he did all night--and I brought this to the attention of our players--was when we made our run, he was on the floor three straight times after loose balls,” Coach Mike Dunleavy said after the Lakers won for the 23rd time in 27 games.

That came in the decisive third quarter, when Johnson also had 12 points and four assists.

“We needed something,” Johnson said. “They (the Magic) played an outstanding game. They were hitting everything and moving the ball well. It was time for me to do something.”

This didn’t turn out to be quite the breather the Lakers might have expected after returning from a six-game, 10-day trip, with another five-gamer beginning Tuesday at Minnesota. Orlando came in having won three in a row on the road for the first time in franchise history--including victories at Golden State and Phoenix--and went 8-3 in February.

The Lakers knew the stakes coming in. They watched in the locker room before the game as the 76ers beat Portland in Philadelphia, setting the scene for the Trail Blazers’ lead in the Pacific Division being trimmed.

And there will be plenty of other opportunities. Portland is in the midst of a stretch of six of eight games on the road and a tough schedule at that: Sunday at Boston, a full week off thanks to a scheduling quirk before facing the Celtics next Sunday at home, Cleveland at home and then at Phoenix and Utah.

Because of Portland’s week off, the Lakers, if they beat Houston Sunday afternoon at the Forum, could move into first place without the Trail Blazers losing. The Laker schedule is also much more agreeable to making a move: Road games at Minnesota Tuesday, Milwaukee Thursday and Washington Saturday. After that, they will play Orlando and Miami before returning home to face Denver.

Of the seven Laker opponents between Sunday and March 15, only two, Houston and Milwaukee, have winning records.

Orlando didn’t make this one easy. The Magic made its first eight shots and 12 of 13 to take a 25-15 lead.

This was one time when a team had to cool down to reach 62.5% (15 of 24) by the end of the quarter, but the Magic finished three of 11 to do it. That was still good enough for a 33-32 lead.

The Lakers played Orlando even the rest of the half, falling behind by five points in the second quarter, but rallying to trail by only 55-54 at intermission. The Magic was shooting at 56.8% heading into the locker room, with Dennis Scott going six for eight.

The Lakers got their first lead at 68-67 when Johnson whipped a pass inside to an open A.C. Green for a layin with 6:51 remaining in the third quarter. Orlando went back ahead, 70-68, but the Lakers went on a 16-4 run to end the quarter with an 84-74 lead.

Orlando got only one basket in the last three minutes of the quarter, and that wasn’t exactly planned. Not unless part of the Magic routine is to have a loose ball carom off the shoulder of Greg Kite and into the hoop.

Even the trick shots couldn’t help at this stage. By sleight of hand--or cold shoulder--the close game was quickly becoming a memory.

Laker Notes

Assistant coach Randy Pfund has been contacted by officials at UC Irvine about taking over the program when Bill Mulligan retires after tonight’s game against Utah State. “I’m happy here,” said Pfund, in his sixth season with the Lakers. “My intentions are to stay involved with the NBA. But there are a couple of reasons why that situation is worth at least conversation. But I’d just as soon not get into reasons why.” No talks have taken place. . . . Sam Perkins, eligible to come off the injured list Friday, was not activated, but he did run for the first time and tested a special shoe that is supposed to provide support for the broken little toe on his left foot.