This Isn’t Like Old Times, but Lakers Do It Old Way : Pro basketball: With running game in gear, Scott gets 29 points and Worthy has 24 in 114-112 overtime victory over Clippers.

The back-and-forth pace, designed for youngsters, was, in the end, decided by the most familiar of faces, the thirtysomething set.

Oldies but goodies, the Lakers, not ready to turn over the town or the team to a youthful infusion, got 29 points from Byron Scott and 24 and seven assists from James Worthy to outshoot the Clippers, 114-112, in overtime Friday night at the Sports Arena to win the season opener.

Even the newcomers were blasts from the past. Kiki Vandeweghe, making his Clipper debut, scored six of his 16 points in the extra period to keep it close. Danny Manning had 26 points for the Clippers before fouling late in regulation.

Scott sank the game-winning basket, a 20-foot jumper from the right side with 13.1 seconds left in overtime. That gave the Lakers their fourth victory in five games over the Clippers.

The Lakers led, 96-88, with 7:33 remaining before the Clippers started to reel them in a second time, the hosts using a 7-0 surge to pull within a point.

The Lakers’ scoring drought went 4:18 before Worthy’s two free throws made it 98-95. When Scott sank a shot from the right side during the next possession, the Lakers had their first field goal in 4:37 and a 100-95 advantage.

The Clippers’ comeback started anew. They came within 100-99 on two free throws by John Williams with 1:37 left, then tied it, at 103-103, when Ron Harper lofted in a 10-footer from the lane with 31 seconds to go. That held up for overtime.

The Clippers took control first in the five-minute extra period with a 107-105 lead on back-to-back baskets by Vandeweghe. But the Lakers countered with an 8-2 rally the next 1:50 and regained the lead, 112-109, with 1:29 left.

The game had all the usual subplots of a season opener and Laker-Clipper game, plus a few extras, with Magic Johnson watching the game only days after his retirement. There was also the return of the Lakers’ up-tempo offense and Williams.

Both appeared early. Williams, playing in his first non-exhibition game since April 21, 1991, replaced Stanley Roberts with 7:19 left in the first quarter when the Clippers went to a small lineup. Williams played seven minutes during that quarter and 13 in the half.

“It’s just good to play, period,” Williams said before the game. “It’s been awhile.”

The same could be said for the Lakers’ running game, shelved the last two seasons. The early result: an 31-20 lead in the first quarter while shooting 70% from the floor, and a 63-point first half.

That was good for only a three-point lead because the Clippers rallied to tie it, at 45-45, and took their first lead the next possession when Manning sliced across the lane for a field goal. Manning, who fouled out, had 16 points by halftime.

The Lakers started the third quarter much the way they opened the game, hot shooting, mostly by Scott, accounting for the biggest lead yet, 77-63. Scott had 14 points, making seven of 10 shots in the quarter.

Clipper-Laker Notes

Taking early steps to avoid a repeat of last season, when Magic Johnson won a spot in the starting lineup for the All-Star game despite being retired, an NBA official said votes for Johnson for the Feb. 21 festivities at Salt Lake City will not be tabulated. The former Laker guard, who is on the ballot because his second retirement came too late to make any changes, has also said he will not play, even in the event of another overwhelming show of fan support. “It was a unique situation last year,” said Brian McIntyre, the NBA’s vice president of public relations. “Basically, if a player retires, that’s it.”

The Clippers made early inquiries about free agent Rick Mahorn, late of the Italian League, but never got into any kind of negotiations. The Clippers could offer the former Detroit Piston player only the minimum of $140,000, far less than he will probably get from another NBA team. The New Jersey Nets have the inside track.

Bob Platt, a partner at the Los Angeles law firm of Manatt, Phelps, Phillips & Kantor, has been named the Clippers’ general counsel. Platt, who has had handled several legal matters for the team, fills a role created by the departure of Alan Rothenberg.

* MAGIC JOHNSON

Life on the NBA sidelines has no appeal for the former Laker star Friday night as he tells reporters, ‘I definitely want to come back, but I won’t.’ Story, C8.

* CENTER OF ATTENTION

Shaquille O’Neal, in his debut with Orlando, scores 12 points and takes 18 rebounds in the Magic’s 110-100 victory over the Miami Heat. NBA roundup, C8.