Lakers Get Control in 4th Quarter : Pro basketball: They score game’s last 13 points to win, 86-74. Rockets go scoreless during the final seven minutes.

The dream won’t die.

The Lakers ran their post-Magic Johnson record to 3-1, holding the Houston Rockets to seven points in the fourth quarter and none in the last 7:14. Meanwhile they scored the last 13 points to win, 86-74, Friday night in the Forum.

The crowd gave the Lakers a warm standing ovation. It was only 16,956, short of a sellout, and half the people were already in the aisles, heading for the exits as they applauded, but the Lakers had one coming.

“I don’t think their emotions have changed,” Coach Mike Dunleavy said of his players. “I think they’re just channeling it in the right direction.

“All I can say is, I’m very proud of them.”

Said James Worthy: “The decision we made was to try to recover immediately instead of waiting two months from now, three months from now, then saying ‘All right, now it’s time to play.’

“It’s very painful. At the same time, it can be very inspirational. Once we hit the floor, it’s almost like therapy for us.”

The Lakers trailed most of the second half but moved ahead, 75-74, on Worthy’s 12-footer.

After that, with Vlade Divac on the bench in foul trouble and A.C. Green guarding Hakeem Olajuwon, the Lakers blanked the visitors.

The Rockets missed nine shots, turned the ball over three times and left looking shellshocked. Olajuwon, seven for 20, dribbled the last five seconds away without even advancing up the court or throwing the ball toward the hoop.

The seven points in a quarter were a franchise low for the Rockets. Their amiable coach, Don Chaney, pronounced it “an embarrassment” and growled through postgame interviews.

“He was visibly upset,” said Rocket guard Kenny Smith, who was four for 11. “Visibly.”

One team’s problem is the other’s triumph. For the second night in a row, the Lakers played a team with the NBA’s best record--Houston came in 5-1, tied with San Antonio--fought their way down the stretch and won.

“These guys are kicking,” Dunleavy said. “They really want to win.

“We realize we have some deficiencies. We talk about going out every night and trying to overcome them. We change things--just for tonight. That’s the way we look at it--just for tonight.”

The game was inartistic but close. The teams were never more than four points apart. The Rockets led, 67-63, starting the fourth quarter, but the Lakers caught them again.

Worthy’s shot put the Lakers ahead, 75-74, with 6:53 left.

A moment later, Sedale Threatt drove toward the middle, then threw the ball back to Green, spotting up behind the three-point line. Green buried his first three-point shot of the season and it was 78-74.

Houston’s power forward, Otis Thorpe, playing a big game, freed himself underneath but missed a left-handed layup. At the other end, Sam Perkins made a 20-footer.

Buck Johnson, two for eight, missed a 17-footer, then the Lakers rebounded and ran. Terry Teagle scored on a layup and it was 82-74.

After that, Vern Maxwell, three for 11, shot a 20-foot air ball, Olajuwon turned the ball over and Johnson fired two parting bricks. As Laker therapy, it was just what the doctor ordered.

Laker Notes

Magic Johnson update: Agent Lon Rosen says Johnson might attend Sunday’s game here against Atlanta. “He wants to come to a game in the near future,” Rosen said. “It depends on when he comes back.” Johnson has been vacationing in Hawaii. . . . Terry Teagle had his second big game off the bench in two nights, scoring 16 points with six steals. “Right now, it’s getting the opportunity to get quality time,” Teagle said. “That’s all I’ve ever asked for.”

The Lakers cleared up the mystery concerning Johnson’s deferred retirement. They had kept him on the active roster, hoping that the one year they have to fill his salary slot started when they made his retirement official. However, NBA officials ruled Johnson was officially retired as of Nov. 7. The Lakers have until Nov. 7, 1992, to spend the $1.25 million they will get back--half of his salary. . . . Both the Lakers and Mavericks insist Jerry West’s visit to Dallas was not a scouting trip to see Derek Harper. West and Mavericks’ personnel director Rick Sund are friends. West said he was only stopping off en route to a speaking engagement in Florida.