Divac Says It With Rebounds

Most husbands opted to send their wives candy or flowers for Valentine’s Day. Vlade Divac’s present to his wife, Ana, was an energetic and impressive performance in the Lakers’ 135-96 rout of the Atlanta Hawks on Sunday before 16,219 at the Forum.

Divac was aggressive in collecting 13 rebounds, bold in amassing five steals and opportunistic in making five of seven field-goal attempts and all four of his free throws.

Why send flowers?

“This was a gift for my wife for Valentine’s Day,” Divac said after the Lakers’ most productive game of the season and largest margin of victory. “Really, I just want to play like this every game, but it doesn’t always happen. I just had a feeling before the game I was going to play well. Everybody on the team put a great effort into this game.”

Byron Scott led the Lakers with 24 points, including 17 in a first half in which the Lakers scored a season-high 69 points. Sedale Threatt added 16 points and eight assists, and Elden Campbell produced 17 points as the Lakers piled on the baskets. They scored 100 points in three quarters for the first time this season, taking a 103-69 lead, and set a season-high with 40 assists in gaining their fourth consecutive home victory and sixth victory overall in their last eight games.

Atlanta’s Dominique Wilkins was held to 17 points, more than 12 below his average.

“I don’t think you can blame it on back-to-back games,” said Hawk Coach Bob Weiss, whose team rallied to defeat the Jazz on Saturday night in Salt Lake City. “They (the Lakers) had some days off, and they could have been stale. It was one of those games--and thankfully they’re rare--where you go out and get your clock cleaned.”

Said Laker Coach Randy Pfund: “After we played the Celtics a couple of weeks ago, I made a quote saying that was the blueprint for how we want to play. I heard people make fun of that, so I’ll change it. Tonight was the blueprint.”

That blueprint was flexible.

Without Anthony Peeler, who has a sprained left wrist, Pfund gave more playing time to Tony Smith, who has been languishing on the bench. Smith missed three games because of a hamstring strain, but he also missed 12 games in which he was available including the last two before Sunday.

“I’ve said all along Tony has made some good contributions to this team. It’s unfortunate for him that at the point he was having his best stretch, he (was injured) against Minnesota,” Pfund said. “I like Tony Smith, and I’ve said to him . . . in no way (is his lack of playing time) a demotion. . . . I just needed to trim the rotation.”

Smith, who last played on Feb. 5 at Phoenix, made the most of his chance Sunday, sinking his three shots in the first half and collecting 16 points in 17 minutes overall.

“At this point, it doesn’t matter where my minutes come from, just as long as I can get some minutes,” Smith said. “You don’t like it to happen because someone is hurt, but that’s just part of the game.”

The Lakers dominated from the midway point of the first quarter. Led by Scott’s 17 points, they built a 69-38 lead by halftime.

Divac provided a spark when he came in for James Worthy with 3:13 remaining in the first quarter. Playing with a forcefulness the Lakers wish he would display more consistently, Divac had two dunks, four steals and six rebounds as he made five of seven field-goal attempts and sank both of his free throws in the first half.

The Lakers made 57% of their field-goal attempts (29 of 51) in the first half and finished at 61%.

Laker Notes

Magic Johnson received his Olympic ring in a halftime ceremony. Although fans at various times yelled for him to say he was returning, he didn’t so much as tease about a comeback. Pointing to the championship banners hanging in the Forum rafters, he said: “There will be more banners here. I wish I would be a part of those banners, but I know basketball is here to stay and the Lakers are here to stay and you keep supporting them.”

In addition to missing Anthony Peeler, the Lakers were without James Edwards, who has a strained left hamstring. He expects to be able to play Thursday.