Lakers Continue to Falter, 109-105

Laker Coach Randy Pfund was discussing the Lakers’ slump with the media before Friday night’s game against the Portland Trail Blazers at the Forum when a heckler shouted “Get a job, Randy.”

The Lakers didn’t make Pfund’s any easier, losing their sixth consecutive game, 109-105, before a crowd of 15,956. The Lakers, who have dropped 11 of their last 12, have lost nine of their last 10 home games.

“I’ve talked with Dr. (Jerry) Buss and I’ve talked with (Laker General Manager) Jerry (West) enough to know that we know what we’re trying to do here,” Pfund said. “ We know this was not going to be an easy year for us. I don’t think there is any question that we’re all feeling frustration at this point because we seemed to have things headed in the right direction until three weeks ago and then we had a total collapse in terms of the wins-losses.

“We’re getting down to the last 10 games and we’ve got to find a way to turn it around. I’m not feeling any outside pressure. I’m just trying to get this team to play a little better. I don’t feel the criticism hits me very squarely because I know that you don’t all of a sudden become a different defensive coach 60 games into the season.”

The Lakers, who lost to the Phoenix Suns on Dan Majerle’s three-point basket at the buzzer last Tuesday and were forced into overtime in Thursday night’s defeat at Golden State, when Latrell Sprewell hit a three-pointer with 1.4 seconds to play, were burned by yet another three-pointer.

With the score tied at 102-102 with 1:25 remaining, Portland guard Mario Elie sank a three-pointer from the left corner with 39 seconds to play.

After calling a timeout to set up a play, Laker center Vlade Divic shot an air ball when he rushed a three-pointer from the top of the key.

Terry Porter, who had a team-high 22 points, sank four in a row free throws on Portland’s next two possessions before James Worthy hit a three-pointer at the buzzer for the final margin.

Worthy, who was averaging 14.7 points in his last three games since losing his starting job to Elden Campbell, had 26 points in 31 minutes off the bench. Worthy hit nine of 16 shots, including four of six three-point shots.

Campbell struggled, making only three of 11 shots and scoring eight points. Campbell had blossomed since moving into the starting lineup, averaging 16 points, 6.7 rebounds and 1.7 blocked shots in his last three games after replacing Worthy. Campbell averaged 8.0 points, 6.1 rebounds and 2.3 blocked shots in 47 games as a starter last season.

Cambell scored only two points in the first half Friday night and Worthy jump started the Lakers in the second quarter, scoring 12 points in the first half as the Lakers rallied from a 14-point deficit to trim the score to 56-55 at halftime.

Leading, 27-26, at the end of the first quarter, the Lakers collapsed in the first seven minutes of the second as the Trail Blazers outscored them, 22-7, to take a 48-34 lead.

Worthy then made a three-pointer, a jumper and a layup as the Lakers went on a 16-5 run to cut it to 53-50 with 55 seconds to play in the half.

After Rod Strickland made a layup and a free throw to give Portland a 56-50 lead, the Lakers scored five points in the final 4.5 seconds of the first half.

Divac banked in a shot with 4.5 seconds left and Tony Smith stole the ball from Rod Strickland to set up A.C. Green, who hit a three-pointer as he was falling out of bounds in front of the Trail Blazer bench at the buzzer.

Laker Notes

Portland forward Cliff Robinson was ejected from the game with 5:10 to play in the third quarter after drawing his second technical foul. Robinson got his first technical foul for unsportsmanlike conduct when he hung on the rim with 10:30 left in the first half . . . Laker rookie Doug Christie had a personal-best seven assists and rookie guard Anthony Peeler had a personal best eight assists. Christie and Peeler got more playing time than normal because Sedale Threatt was hampered by an ingrown toenail on his left big toe. He’ll be examined this morning....After passing off for 11 assists, the most assists by a Laker rookie since Magic Johnson had 13 assists five times in 1979-80, and scoring four points in the fourth quarter of Tuesday night’s game against Phoenix, Laker guard Duane Cooper didn’t play in Thursday night’s loss at Golden State. “It’s something I’ve got to deal with,” Cooper said. “Over the course of the season there are some times when you feel like you might get in a game but you don’t and you’ve just got to learn to live with it and stay positive.” After appearing in 35 straight games, Cooper hasn’t played in six of the last 11 games.