The Magic’s Back as Lakers Roll, 111-89 : Pro basketball: Divac, Green fuel a 28-10 run that overcomes the Hawks. It is L.A.’s fourth consecutive victory.

Magic Johnson returned to the Forum and his old teammates surfed on the tide of emotion.

Vlade Divac, their 7-foot-1 center and an aspiring magician himself, led a fast break and whipped a behind-the-back pass for an assist, kicking off the burst that turned the game.

Reserve forward A.C. Green scored 26 points. Reserve guard Terry Teagle had 15 and the Lakers beat the Atlanta Hawks, 111-89, Sunday night for their fourth victory in a row.

It was Johnson’s first appearance in the Forum since he announced his retirement in the same building 10 days before.

There was no announcement, but no surprise. Johnson, dressed in a double-breasted black suit and black pullover, walked across the floor to the Laker bench after player introductions, drawing a standing ovation that lasted 1:45, until the opening tip.

Dominique Wilkins led a parade of Hawks to Johnson. Wilkins and Johnson embraced.

“Magic is a very close friend of mine,” Wilkins said later. “He’s a guy I’ve been knowing for a lot of years. It was special. It was very special.

“It was a very emotional game for them because of Magic coming out and supporting the team.

“Magic was basketball. If you want to appreciate basketball, you can appreciate that.”

Johnson went to Hawaii after announcing his retirement Nov. 7. The Lakers heard he was coming to the game Sunday and got ready.

“I want to (joke) with him,” Byron Scott said. “I haven’t had anyone to hit on for a week.”

Johnson walked into the locker room at 6:15 p.m., looking a little embarrassed.

“Hey, hey!” someone yelled.

Johnson shook hands with everyone, hugging Divac and Teagle.

“You look trim as hell,” assistant coach Bill Bertka told him.

“I can’t be, not working out,” Johnson said, laughing.

Then he went into the training room and embraced James Worthy and Scott. Sam Perkins asked him if he was going to suit up.

“I think it’s good,” Coach Mike Dunleavy said before the game. “I’m glad he’s back.

“This will be another emotional evening, I’m sure, but it’ll be good. Guys see he’s back and joking, that’s got to be very helpful.

“This has been almost like a death, in the sense that he’s been gone. Now he’s back. He’s alive and kicking.”

After welcoming Johnson back, after his pregame introduction, the Lakers shot 30% in the first quarter and found themselves behind in a hurry.

They trailed, 29-21, early in the second when Divac, leading a breakout in the middle of the floor, whipped a behind-the-back pass ahead to Teagle, who scored on a layup.

A moment later, Divac blocked Paul Graham’s shot and away sped the Lakers once more, Green dunking to finish it.

The baskets started a 28-10 Laker run. Green scored 13 of those points with two rebounds and two steals. At one point, the Lakers forced the Hawks into six turnovers within 13 possessions.

The Hawks closed to within 54-52 early in the third period, but Teagle came back in to score nine points within 2:20 and the Lakers pulled away.

Green scored 11 more points and the team that went 23-7 in the final quarter against the Rockets Friday went 34-21 against the Hawks.

“I just felt before the game, ‘Great,’ ” Divac said.

“I knew we would win with Magic. Magic was our support. We need him on the bench. . . . We have big talent. If we can play like the last three games, that will be great.”

Laker Notes

Magic Johnson is still on the Laker roster. The team has kept him there so he can sit on the bench, pending a league waiver of its normal rules. If the league office won’t grant an exemption, the Lakers intend to put Johnson on the injured list. . . . Vlade Divac came in before the game, sporting his annual crew cut, with his beard shaved. Said reserve center Jack Haley: “Grow your beard back, Vlade. Too many people are calling me Vlade.”