Lakers Appreciate a Reprieve

The Lakers are alive for another day.

Mike Dunleavy, in a warm-up suit and “White Men Can’t Jump” baseball cap, sat in a sports bar with his assistant coaches, living and dying through Friday night’s Houston-Dallas telecast. A Houston victory would have eliminated the Lakers, but the Rockets blew a 103-98 lead and fell to the lowly Mavericks for the second time in a week, 109-106.

“We’re still breathing!” assistant Bill Bertka said, laughing. “We’re still breathing!”

Said Dunleavy, grinning: “The Mavericks came through. Now we’ve got to come through.

“We’re still alive. Until they pronounce you dead, you’ve got to keep kicking.”

The Lakers still need victories in their last two games--here today against the Trail Blazers, at home Sunday against the Clippers--plus a Houston loss at home Sunday to the Suns, to make the playoffs.

The Lakers have lost five of six and will be even more short-handed. Elden Campbell has been scratched because of a sore elbow. Chucky Brown will start in his place.

Thus it wasn’t exactly a cocky band of Laker coaches and officials who sat down at the bar to watch their fate decided on TV.

“Brian Howard . . . Donald Hodge . . . Tracy Moore,” said one, naming the rookies Dallas was playing heavily. “Can you imagine your season riding on them?”

The Mavericks fell 12 points behind, suggesting vacation was at hand for the Lakers, but battled back.

Moore, a guard from the Continental Basketball Assn., made a 20-footer, then a three-pointer as the Mavericks climbed to within 103-102.

When Houston’s Sleepy Floyd went to the free-throw line, Dunleavy yelled, “C’mon, lotsa noise!” and began slapping the bar.

Floyd missed two free throws.

Hakeem Olajuwon was fouled.

“OK, Dream, one time, one brick!” Dunleavy said.

Olajuwon, who had made nine of nine free throws, made one of two.

With 16 seconds left, Dallas’ Herb Williams was fouled and made the first of two free throws. He missed the second, but the Mavericks got the rebound. Rookie guard Mike Iuzzolino was fouled and made two. Three Rocket three-pointers missed and the Lakers’ season was on for another day.

Grateful for the Rockets’ fold, several Lakers grabbed their throats with two hands.

Someone marveled at the Rockets losing to the Mavericks again.

“That wasn’t exactly the Boston Celtics we lost to the other night in Denver,” assistant Randy Pfund said.

Just another day in the race.