Unlikely Lakers Step Up to Win

ID check from the Forum on Sunday night:

That really was the Lakers winning for the fifth time in their last eight games, a 107-90 victory over the Utah Jazz before 11,777.

That really was CBA-claimer Reggie Jordan, scoring a game-high 28 points in 25 minutes in only his fifth NBA appearance, a showing that will probably earn him a contract for the rest of the season when his second 10-day deal expires Friday.

That really was James Worthy, who had shot 21.7% the previous six games, hitting 12 of 19 en route to 26 points. And that was Tony Smith, at 39.1% coming in and in danger of losing his starting job to Sedale Threatt because of lack of offense, scoring 19 points.

No, that really was not Dennis Rodman playing center for the Lakers. That was Vlade Divac, getting 23 rebounds while playing all but one minute, but scoring only five points.

“So don’t be surprised if I come to the next game wearing purple hair,” he said.

Then he would be color-coordinated with the road uniforms, but the Lakers wouldn’t care if Divac came with a two-tone beard as long as he continues like this. In the last three games, he has pulled down 23, 19 and 15 rebounds. In the last six, he is averaging 15.2 per game.

Jordan came in at the other end of the spectrum. Four games, 11 minutes, four shots, one success. He was practice fodder.

Then this.

“I think the guys were rooting for Reggie,” Coach Randy Pfund said, noting that his reserves became more charged the closer the Lakers got to their fourth consecutive home victory, the longest run in a year. “That’s what I sensed. I’m not so sure what goes on behind me; they’re probably making faces at me. But I sensed our team and the crowd getting into it.”

Jordan, a New Mexico State product whose previous distinction was making the CBA all-star team, only got this chance because Nick Van Exel had two fouls before the game was three minutes old.

It was only one of the lowlights during a first quarter in which the Lakers scored only 10 points, their fewest in a period this season. Pfund then dipped into a bench that was already thin at guard.

Van Exel played three minutes in the first half, but the Lakers, behind a 30-point second quarter, still had a 40-39 advantage at the intermission.

When the second half opened, Van Exel had two more fouls within two Jazz possessions, again sending him to the bench.

Jordan picked up the pieces. He made four of five shots in the third quarter, good for eight points. In the fourth, when the Jazz got as close as three points before the Lakers pulled away with about four minutes to go, Jordan scored 14 points, many on twisting moves under the basket.

“I’ve been doing those moves sometimes,” he said. “But, yeah, I surprised myself.”

Himself and everyone else.

Laker Notes

The starting lineup remained intact Sunday, but Coach Randy Pfund said he has, and will, consider replacing Tony Smith with Sedale Threatt. “Last week I looked at it, but I knew that Tony was a better matchup for Jim Jackson (of the Dallas Mavericks),” Pfund said. “In both games, I’ve (substituted) Sedale for Tony so we could get both our quick guards on the court at once. Yeah, that might be something we consider going to. Tony has not shot the ball well.” Smith, the Lakers’ best defensive guard, was shooting only 36.5% over the previous nine games heading into Sunday. . . . The Lakers say there is an outside chance Doug Christie could play Thursday against Sacramento at the Forum, what would be his first appearance since suffering a sprained ankle Jan. 10.