James Is Worthy but Not Lakers : Pro basketball: Magic to start ex-All-Star in today’s final after 126-91 loss, the ninth in a row.

The tribute might be premature, but Coach Magic Johnson isn’t taking any chances. He doesn’t want to risk James Worthy spending much of the last game of his career on the bench.

With that in mind, Worthy figures to be in the starting lineup today for only the second time this season as the Lakers finish against the Utah Jazz at the Forum. Johnson wants it that way. He wants a dignified player to have a dignified moment, should this be the end of an illustrious career.

“It may be,” Johnson said. “I’m going to start him and Kurt Rambis and James Edwards in anticipation that it’s going to be. I’m not saying it is, but just in case it is, I want them to go out with something special.”

The ending to the season won’t take care of that, not on a team that Saturday afternoon set a franchise record by losing its ninth consecutive game, 126-91, to Golden State at Oakland Coliseum Arena and continues to frustrate the coach and most veterans. Not on a team that suffered its worst defeat since Jan. 21, 1992, and was swept in the season series by the Warriors for the first time ever.

Worthy, who has two years left on his contract, has not said he will retire after this season. But given the opportunity to refute speculation that he would prefer a buyout, he has not said he will be back. The stance for months has been that it doesn’t warrant serious consideration at this stage.

Asked Saturday if he has any special feelings because today’s game might be his last, Worthy stayed that course.

“It’s the last game of the regular season, with no playoffs,” he said. “I think about that a lot. But I’m not thinking about my personal situation too much.”

The Lakers should welcome any possible distractions. Ensured of back-to-back losing seasons for the first time since the mid-1970s, they are also guaranteed to finish with the second-worst record in the Los Angeles era, no matter what happens today. Their defense continues to get shredded--10 consecutive opponents have reached triple figures for the first time since 1988-89.

“It was like watching a clinic,” Johnson said of Saturday’s showing, which included the Warriors scoring 73 points by intermission, the most points the Lakers have given up in a half all season. “It was bad on our side. Missed layups. Kicking the ball. A lot of missed assignments. But as I said in Phoenix, one team is in the playoffs and one team is on vacation.”

Is he upset?

“I’m already past that,” Johnson said. “It’s too late to be upset. I’m frustrated, I’m embarrassed, and I told them at halftime that I am embarrassed for them.”

Tony Smith led the Lakers with 19 points. Chris Webber had 27 points and 12 rebounds for the Warriors, both game highs.

Laker Notes

NBC reported Saturday that the Lakers have offered Kentucky Coach Rick Pitino a five-year, $21-million contract to succeed Magic Johnson. The Lakers would neither confirm nor deny. . . . . Johnson said he considered activating himself for the final two games before deciding to stay retired. “I was thinking about it,” he said. “Both of these--this one and Utah.” . . . Tony Smith will be honored Friday by the Los Angeles City Council for his post-earthquake community work. The Laker guard will also receive a certificate of appreciation on Wednesday from the Santa Monica chapter of the American Red Cross for similar contributions.