The Knick Lead Over Lakers Gets Lost in the Glare : Pro basketball: Threatt, angered by look from Jackson, scores 42 points to lift L.A., 106-104. Riley loses both games in series.

And the score after one season is Lakers 2, Riley 0.

When New York Knick guard Mark Jackson made a running 18-footer to end Tuesday night’s first quarter and then glared triumphantly at the Lakers’ Sedale Threatt, he had no idea what a monster he was creating.

Threatt proceeded to score a career-high 42 points, leading the Lakers to a 106-104 upset and a sweep of the season series with the Knicks and former Laker coach Pat Riley.

The game was played at a furious pace, with an ending to match.

With the Knicks ahead, 104-103, Threatt drove, drew the defense, then passed to Sam Perkins, who made a three-pointer with two seconds to play.

Xavier McDaniel got the ball at the other end, and he made a long jumper.

What was it, two-pointer, three-pointer?

The referees conferred for 15 seconds and ruled the shot too late. The Lakers had won.

Madison Square Garden erupted in boos, but replays suggested the ruling was correct.

“We had to look at it a few times,” said John Andariese, a member of the Knick telecast crew. “You could see the ball in X’s hand and the clock at zero.”

The Lakers had lost 11 of 13. Their day started with the news that James Worthy would be absent for more than the beginning of this trip. He was placed on the injured list, meaning he will be sidelined for at least five games.

Coach Mike Dunleavy, asked before the game why he was starting Elden Campbell, answered: “Who else do I have?”

Within five minutes, Dunleavy had to pull Campbell and Sam Perkins, each of whom had two fouls. The Knicks, winners of four in a row, opened a 35-25 lead.

En route, however, Jackson angered Threatt.

“He looked back,” Threatt said, “and I knew it was a personal game. I knew I was going at him every chance I got. I was going to let it fly on him.

“I think it started in L.A. (during the previous meeting Feb. 26). I guess he wants to be a superstar, I don’t know. . . . I think it started with some baskets by Mark, just the look on his face, like he’s a better ballplayer than I am. So I’m just going at him every chance I get.”

The Lakers closed to 57-55 at the half. Threatt scored 22 points during the third quarter, making seven of his eight shots--all but one of them from outside 15 feet.

Then Dunleavy rested him--for 1:51 of the fourth quarter. Threatt had 34 points.

Threatt returned and promptly made two layups, a 15-footer and a 20-footer as the Lakers went on a 15-4 run, taking a 103-96 lead.

The Knicks rallied. With 21 seconds to play, they trailed, 103-102, when Jackson drove and passed to John Starks. Jackson’s pass was wide, and Starks was trying to save the ball when Threatt was ruled to have bumped him out of bounds from behind.

With 11 seconds to play, Starks made two free throws for a 104-103 lead.

The Lakers called time out and designed a play. Threatt drove left, with the defense attempting to cut him off, then passed back to Perkins standing alone at the three-point line.

Perkins’ shot dropped cleanly.

McDaniel’s shot dropped late.

Threatt and Jackson talked after the game.

“I can’t tell you what I said to him,” Threatt said. “They’d been telling me I blew the game with a couple of turnovers. Mark was telling me, ‘You scored 40, but I’m going to win the game.’ After (the referees) made that ruling, I had to talk to him about it, let him know how it’s going to be next year.”

Jackson said he didn’t know anything about it.

“We’re in first place,” Jackson said. “We’re winning our division. That’s all that matters.”

Laker Notes

Coach Mike Dunleavy, asked if the Lakers will sign a player to replace James Worthy: “What do I know? I was thinking of signing my brother to a five-game contract.” . . . Magic Johnson keeps getting closer to saying he will return next season. “The odds look great,” he said in New York. “I’ll just keep smiling and see what happens. . . . The doctors have approved it, if I want to come back.”