Lakers Lose Leads, Then Hold Off Kings

Kings come and Kings go, but from Phil Johnson to Bill Russell to Dick Motta to Rex Hughes, one truth holds:

They still can’t beat the Lakers.

Reeling in off their 39-point loss in Portland, without James Worthy, they outfought the Kings down the stretch and won, 108-105, Thursday night, their seventh consecutive victory here and 15th in 17 games since the team arrived in town.

The Lakers thus escaped this trip 1-1, and returned home as happy as circumstances allow.

“This was big,” Coach Mike Dunleavy said. “We keep saying, we’re trying to win games till we get our team back, but as opposed to getting healthier, we’re getting hurt more.

“Any time we can win get a win without our starting point guard, forward and center from last year, we’ve got to feel good about it.”

Then there were the Kings, who weren’t feeling as good.

They were called for three technical fouls. Hughes, broiling at the officiating, left the floor yelling at the referees. Then he pushed one camera out of his way and gave an angry wave at another.

The Kings, no longer mired in Motta’s pattern offense, their scoring average boosted from 99 points to 106 under Hughes, chased the Lakers to the wire. They wiped out an early 14-point deficit and a 10-point deficit in the last 5:08.

With 25 seconds left, Mitch Richmond missed a driving layup in heavy traffic that would have put the Kings ahead.

A.C. Green, fouled in the fight for the rebound, made one of two free throws for a 106-104 lead.

At the other end, Lionel Simmons was fouled, but he missed his chance to tie the game with 11 seconds left, making only one of two free throws.

The Lakers got the ball in to Sedale Threatt, who was fouled and made both free throws (his 28th and 29th points for his season high) and the Lakers led, 108-105. They smothered Richmond’s desperate three-point attempt and the evening was theirs.

The Kings started the night with a two-game winning streak over the Charlotte Hornets and Denver Nuggets, but this was going to be different--they said.

“I’m scared to death of the Lakers,” Hughes said before the game. “This isn’t something I’m looking forward to.”

As if living up to their advance notices, the Lakers stormed to a 29-15 lead 8:20 into the game behind a red-hot Threatt, who made six of his first eight shots and scored 14 points in the first quarter.

But the Kings didn’t even need until halftime to catch them.

With 29 seconds left in the second quarter, Simmons scored on a layup, putting Sacramento ahead, 58-57.

The Kings weren’t shooting straight, but they didn’t have to since they were rebounding most of their misses. At the half, their rebound edge was 27-12.

Having surrendered the momentum, the Lakers tightened up in the third quarter and got it back.

By the fourth quarter, Threatt had 27 points and they had an 81-79 lead.

They moved into a 98-87 lead midway through the quarter. After that, they managed to hold on as they have so many times here. Sacramento, their home away from home.

Laker Notes

The Kings were fuming, unhappy that the Lakers shot 19 free throws to their one in the first half. “I know I’m not great at math,” Wayman Tisdale said, “but something was wrong in that first half.” . . . James Worthy’s left knee was still sore and he was sent home Thursday afternoon. “He can’t play, so it makes no sense for him to be here,” trainer Gary Vitti said. “We have a game (tonight) and it just made good sense. This way we can make sure we’re not missing anything.”