Bucks Add to Lakers’ Troubles

A funny thing happened in the middle of the Lakers’ stretch drive.

Their wheels came off.

Magic Johnson’s sore knees forced him out of action Friday night. James Worthy was healthy but not happy, acknowledging reports that the Lakers had pulled a contract offer off the table, which he said raises in his mind the possibility he might be traded.

That was before the game started, which made it less than the surprise of the ages when the Milwaukee Bucks, who had won one game at the Forum in eight years, beat the Lakers, 99-92, dropping them one game behind first-place Portland in the Pacific Division.

The Lakers led, 89-86, with 1:53 left but collapsed. The Bucks went ahead to stay on Frank Brickowski’s short jump shot with 44 seconds left.

Brickowski, a former Laker, scored 30 other points, primarily on inside moves, a game after Seattle’s Benoit Benjamin tore the Lakers up.

Thus, the Lakers’ list of problems reads: aching point guard, leading scorer with hurt feelings, no interior defense and time running out.

“Brickowski wore us out,” said Mike Dunleavy, who celebrated the wild night with his first technical foul as a head coach. “He got our whole team in foul trouble.

“I’m concerned. It wasn’t just one guy. I went down our lineup and he was tougher than anyone we had. I just hope it was a tonight thing, not an every-night thing.”

Worthy missed eight of his first 10 shots, then went on to score 34 points with nine rebounds and six assists, leading the Lakers back from an eight-point, fourth-quarter deficit.

Pregame had been a little different for him, consisting of explaining to reporters about his contract situation.

Worthy said he accepted an offer five weeks ago, which the Lakers then withdrew.

He said he hoped to have it resolved by the playoffs.

“I’d hate to think they’re just trying to get the best out of James and then trade him,” Worthy said.

“At this point in time, with these negotiations going on, it (a trade) kinda goes together. You say, ‘Maybe that’s why it’s taking so long.’

“I don’t want to sound like a villain. I’m very happy here, I’d like to finish my career here, but these are short careers we have and my first priority is to provide for my family. I need to know I have a job.”

Worthy said he has requested a meeting with Laker owner Jerry Buss next week to find out where he stands.

Said Laker General Manager Jerry West: “I think it’s been the Laker intention to satisfy a great player. Obviously, that hasn’t been concluded. This is a renegotiation, not a negotiation and that’s my only comment.”

The game started raggedly . . . and stayed that way.

The Lakers played hard in the first half, but it wasn’t what you would call a basketball clinic. They turned the ball over nine times in the first quarter, their effort best typified by a play on which Vlade Divac knocked the ball away, pursued it furiously, got it, roared in for a two-handed dunk . . . and slammed it off the back of the rims.

The Bucks weren’t seizing many opportunities, either. They took a 25-18 lead, but the Lakers caught up. Rookie Elden Campbell, getting a rare call, threw down a reverse dunk that seemed to pick the Lakers up. Campbell scored five points in the waning minutes of the half and the Lakers went back up, 44-42.

In the end, Brickowski and the Bucks laughed last.

“James had a great game,” Dunleavy said. “He did it all.”

He did what he could.

Now to see what happens, on several fronts.

Laker Notes

Magic Johnson says of his sore knees: “I don’t think it’s serious--I hope not anyway. But I think it’s something we have to get under control. . . . I’ll probably play, more than likely, on Sunday (against Seattle).”