Lakers Get the Jump on 76ers as Christie Returns From Injury

The game was, for all practical purposes, over, the Lakers headed to a 107-95 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers on Sunday night at the Forum, when the most important play occurred.

Doug Christie, sidelined for 16 games because of a sprained ankle, was charging down the right side alone on a fast break. James Worthy had the ball along the left side. He lobbed. Christie caught the ball and turned it into an alley-oop dunk. He then landed without any pain in his legs.

“I hadn’t been jumping in practice or warm-ups, so I didn’t know how well I could jump,” Christie said. “But he threw it up and I went and got it. I wouldn’t say I’m back 100%, but that was definitely a bonus.”

Much as his return before 11,662 was a bonus as the Lakers ended a three-game losing streak behind 21 points from Sedale Threatt and 19 points, seven rebounds, six assists and four steals from Nick Van Exel. Christie? He had four points and three rebounds and four turnovers in 21 mostly rusty minutes, many in a glimpse of what could be a move to shooting guard, but the numbers didn’t matter in comparison to the fact that he was finally back.

Although the ankle is still tender and, he estimates, at about 75% strength, Christie played without pain, even making harder cuts as the game progressed. However, he did jam a joint in the first half and had to be re-taped.

“His timing was off,” Worthy said. “He hasn’t had enough practice time. You could see that from the way he handled the ball, but that’s only natural when you’re coming back from that kind of layoff. I think he’s about a game away.”

Christie was in uniform Friday at Phoenix and apparently ready to play, but was held out of the eventual loss and said he should have stayed home to get therapy instead of sitting on the bench.

Sunday, he made it in at the start of the second quarter, his first appearance since Jan. 9, the day before suffering a sprained ankle in practice.

His nine minutes that quarter were primarily at shooting guard, which might become a common sight. George Lynch has taken over the small forward spot by averaging 16.2 points, 9.7 rebounds and 3.06 steals in the 16 games Christie sat out.

That--combined with Anthony Peeler expected to be out at least two more weeks because of a stress fracture in a leg and Christie saying that off guard is his natural position--makes for a potential long-term move.

By the time Christie returned again, opening the fourth quarter after sitting out the third, the Lakers were on their way to turning the game into a blowout.

It was 79-70 at the time, but about to become 87-70 while the 76ers went scoreless for five minutes. The lead extended to 101-80 with 4:34 remaining.

After scoring 60 points before intermission, the 76ers managed only 10 points in the third quarter while making five of 20 shots and 25 in the fourth.

The 35 points represented the fewest the Lakers have given up in a half this season.

Laker Notes

James Worthy said he is considering retiring after this season, his 12th, which would mean either a buyout of the final two years of his contract or walking away from a $7.2-million balloon payment for 1994-95. “I haven’t seriously, seriously thought about it,” Worthy said before Sunday’s game. “ . . . I’m going to give the season all the attention it deserves and I don’t think I’ll be talking about it before every game. I haven’t had any personal contact about it with the front office.”

Tony Smith, the current starter at shooting guard, played six minutes the first half, didn’t open the third quarter and got only two more minutes the rest of the way. Coach Randy Pfund continues to consider replacing him with Sedale Threatt, although Pfund might stay with Smith for one more game, Thursday at Sacramento, to have his best backcourt defender to use against Mitch Richmond. “I’ll evaluate it,” Pfund said. “Maybe I’ll give Sedale a look and see how he does as a starter for a couple of games. It’s a possibility.”

Doug Christie was the team’s leading scorer before falling to No. 2 by the end of the night.