Smaller Lakers Come Up Big

The Lakers followed their leader a little too much Friday night, watching Magic Johnson stay on the sidelines because of tendinitis in the left Achilles’ heel, what is believed to be a minor injury, then almost sitting this one out themselves.

It took a small lineup to save them from an upset. George Lynch, Anthony Peeler and Sedale Threatt came off the bench to help finish what Eddie Jones started in a 104-94 victory over the troublesome Vancouver Grizzlies before 17,505 at the Forum that also included a quiet triple-double from Vlade Divac.

Jones hadn’t even played the fourth quarter in two of the previous four games, replaced as Peeler had become an offensive spark. This time, with starters Cedric Ceballos and Nick Van Exel on the bench the entire final period as Coach Del Harris again rode his hot hands, Jones and Lynch played forward down the stretch while Threatt and Peeler provided another in what has become a series of big lifts off the bench in the backcourt, proving to be the combination that finally dispatched the Grizzlies.

Jones, having shot 37% and averaged 9.4 points the previous five games, went for a game-high 26 points while making 10 of 15 attempts. Peeler had 18 points by going seven of 10 overall and four of six on three-point shots.

“We love to play together,” Peeler said. “Our eyes light up.”

Their shine was enough to overshadow Divac’s fourth career triple-double, his first of this season coming with the odd line of 10 points, 13 assists and 10 rebounds.

Blessed to play in a town where fans either are very forgiving or have short memories, Ceballos got a favorable greeting during pregame introductions before his first home appearance since going AWOL, the abundance of cheers almost drowning out the boos. The reaction was worse in Orlando, when he even got booed the first few times he touched the ball, and a couple other stops on the just-completed trip.

Then, when Ceballos made his first basket, a layup with 2:20 gone, there was only applause. Back in the starting lineup, back in good graces--had he really been gone?

There would be none of the old magic from the old lineup, though. Having beaten the Grizzlies by an average of 18.3 points the first three meetings, two of which came before Johnson returned and the other when he was out because of a strained calf, the Lakers struggled in their final game against the expansion teams, trailing by five points late in the second quarter after a 17-2 run by Vancouver.

The Lakers pulled back ahead by halftime, 51-47, but still couldn’t shake the Grizzlies, even as the visitors also went without their starting small forward, Gerald Wilkins, because of a minor injury to his left Achilles’ tendon. Heading into the fourth quarter, the Lakers’ lead was only 73-68.

Vancouver fell off the pace, finally. Peeler’s three-point basket with 7:57 remaining made it 82-72 and prompted a timeout by the Grizzlies, but that proved nothing more than a pit stop for the Laker transition game that was just getting started.

Laker Notes

General Manager Mitch Kupchak is believed to have interviewed Friday for the same position with the Philadelphia 76ers, one of several teams that has pursued him the last few years. Pat Croce, who officially takes over as the 76ers’ owner April 24, has told Coach-General Manager John Lucas he does not want someone doing both jobs. Two current executives who have previously worked with the 76ers--John Gabriel of the Orlando Magic and Bob Weinhauer of the Houston Rockets--interviewed before Kupchak. Dave Wohl, a former assistant coach with the Lakers and Clippers and now a vice president with the Miami Heat, may be in early next week.

Vlade Divac holds his annual charity bowling tournament today from 4-8 p.m. at Mar Vista Bowl at 12125 Venice Blvd.