Scott Scores 19, but Divac Steals Show at Finish : Pro basketball: Center scores season-high 26 points and makes the key basket as Lakers rally, then hold off Pacers, 103-99.

Byron Scott was back in the Forum on Wednesday night, wearing No. 4 and the familiar flat-top haircut again, getting cheered by his hometown fans again, making shots again.

“I almost made a pass to him,” Vlade Divac said. “Almost.”

So, with nostalgia in the air, what were the Lakers supposed to do but beat Scott’s Indiana Pacers, again. This time, it was a 103-99 victory before 11,577 to sweep the two-game season series for the fourth time in six years.

Scott finished with 19 points on eight-of-18 shooting in a rare start, and backcourt mate Reggie Miller had 21, but the Pacers scored only 21 points in the fourth quarter. The Lakers scored 32, Divac accounting for 11 of those, to win for the second time in three games.

The Lakers trailed, 81-78, with nine minutes left, then charged ahead with a 15-2 run for a 93-83 advantage with 5:17 remaining. They were still up by nine and had 94 points with 4:40 to go, which seemed like a strange place to switch off the offense.

The Lakers were still looking for another basket as the game neared the one-minute mark, by which time the Pacers had closed within 94-92. But when the scoreless streak ended with 63 seconds to go, it was pivotal: Divac made a jumper from the top of the free throw circle, was fouled by Antonio Davis and converted from the line.

That gave Divac the biggest of his season-high 26 points, to go with 11 rebounds in 45 minutes, and it gave the Lakers a five-point lead. The margin quickly became nine, 101-92, with 33 seconds left as Sedale Threatt and George Lynch (19 points) each made two free throws.

The Lakers commemorated Scott’s return with a one-minute video review of his 10 years in Los Angeles on the scoreboard, then by presenting him with a framed version of his former home jersey.

Pacer Coach Larry Brown noted the occasion by starting Scott alongside Miller, returning everyone to their rightful spot midway through the first quarter by using Vern Fleming, just off the injured list, at point guard.

Scott still wore No. 4 and he still was a crowd favorite, getting a nice ovation from the small audience. But best of all for him, he was playing in the Forum again, he was in Southern California again.

“I was really looking forward to it so I could see the sun,” Scott said.

There were other reasons, too.

“I’m definitely glad I made the trip,” he said. “One of the first things I did when I signed with this team was look at the schedule and see when we would be in L.A. I was sorry I missed the game in Indy (because he had not signed yet), but I’m glad to be here for this.

“Being the first time I’ve done this (play as a visitor), it’s definitely a little weird. But it’s just like the weather in Indy. You deal with it.”

Scott missed his first three shots, but then made six of his next 10 by midway through the third quarter to help the Pacers to a 64-63 lead. Indiana, looking to break a three-game losing streak, had a 78-71 lead heading into the fourth quarter.

Laker Notes

Doug Christie is scheduled to be one of six players in the slam dunk contest next month at the All-Star weekend, but it’s far from certain the Laker forward will take part. Christie said he wants to have at least a couple of games back to test his sprained ankle before competing in an exhibition, high profile or not, and the Lakers are saying he could easily be out two more weeks. If that becomes reality, Christie might not play at all until after the All-Star break.

How’s this for fantasy: a uniform in the Laker locker room, jersey No. 23, the name JORDAN across the back. It became a reality Wednesday, except that was Reggie Jordan, not Michael, making his debut after signing a 10-day contract. “I like to make dreams come true,” he said before the game. “Mine and the fans’.” Jordan made it to the NBA despite not even playing in high school and not being drafted out of New Mexico State. His previous pro experience came from the Continental Basketball Assn. and a 1993 training camp stint with the Pacers. Jordan played three minutes against the Pacers, scoring two points.