Lakers Win the Official Decision : NBA playoffs: Scott’s basket with 3.5 seconds left is ruled to have beaten the 24-second clock and Rockets are thwarted in opener, 94-92.

In a game befitting the wild Western Conference, the Lakers and Rockets played a game that was more like a saloon fight where they bust chairs over each other’s heads.

When the dust cleared, it was the Lakers left standing, 94-92 winners Thursday night in the playoff opener before 17,505 in the Forum.

Byron Scott hit the shot heard ‘round L.A., a 19-footer beating the 24-second clock with 3.5 seconds left and the Lakers clinging to a 91-90 lead.

Scott’s goal was first ruled too late, then a good three-pointer, then a good two-pointer.

Actually, the replay suggested that it was late. However, you can check the playoff standings today: It counted.

The Rockets were outraged.

“After reviewing the tape,” a somber Coach Don Chaney said, “we basically confirmed what we thought all the time--on that last shot by Byron Scott, the clock had expired.

“Jack Madden made the first call. It was the correct call. He was overruled, which was a shame.

“I think it’s ridiculous, a veteran official makes the correct call and he allows it to be overruled.

“It is not even close. It’s very obvious.”

Mike Dunleavy said he hadn’t seen the replay.

“There was no question it was good,” he said, smiling.

Said Madden: “My initial reaction was that the shot was not away in time. I immediately ruled no basket. With the reaction of the players and the like, I consulted with my fellow officials and at which time they assured me the shot was good. Therefore, I reversed the call.”

For the Lakers, this was the definition of the word “escape.”

Magic Johnson shot five for 15 and had 17 points. James Worthy was four for 13 and scored 14. The Rockets outrebounded the Lakers, 45-29.

The Lakers had the Rockets down by 11 early in the second quarter, saw their lead disappear by halftime, spent the rest of the evening up to their necks in trouble but left winners.

“We played hard,” Johnson said. “That was the key. We may not have shot too well. I didn’t play as well as I wanted. James probably didn’t play as well as he wanted.”

The Rockets started the night with high hopes, if an uncertain tradition.

Since May of 1986, when Ralph Sampson’s turnaround at the buzzer eliminated the Lakers, the Rockets are 1-13 in the Forum.

“We feel like we can come in here and get one,” Vern Maxwell said before the game.

“You play the Lakers, you’re always hyped up in the Forum. Everybody expects you to lose ‘cause you’re in the Forum. I just don’t go by that.”

By the second quarter, the Rockets were down by those 11 points and looking lost. For reasons best known to Chaney, he went with a backcourt of Sleepy Floyd and Dave Jamerson, the former a none-too-successful point guard, the latter a rookie who hadn’t been previously exposed in meaningful games. But the Rockets cut the lead.

By the time Chaney put starters Maxwell and Kenny Smith back in, it was down to 42-35.

By the end of the half, it was all just about all gone, the Lakers clinging to a 51-50 advantage.

After that, baskets were hard to come by.

The third quarter was a 20-16 defensive struggle but the Lakers struggled best and scored the 20.

The struggle was just warming up, as were Scott and Madden and Chaney.

Laker Notes

Terry Teagle was ejected in the second quarter for throwing two punches at Houston’s Dave Jamerson after a rebound tangle. Jamerson didn’t respond and wasn’t penalized. The normally low-key Teagle had to be forcibly restrained, took his mouthpiece out, threw it on the floor and was led to the dressing room, still enraged. He will certainly be fined by the NBA office and could be suspended. The Forum crowd spent the rest of the night booing Jamerson. . . . “It’s just a situation that happened,” Teagle said. “That’s all I have to say about it until I look at the film. I’m just going to worry about getting ready for Saturday.”

* CAUGHT IN THE SCUFFLE:

Rookie Dave Jamerson of the Houston Rockets downplayed his role in an incident that resulted in the ejection of Terry Teagle. C6