Lakers Blaze Way Into the Playoffs

By SCOTT HOWARD-COOPER

April 22, 1996 12 AM PT

TIMES STAFF WRITER

PORTLAND, Ore. —

About this being a meaningless game. . . .

The Lakers discovered that Sunday night’s regular-season finale, a 92-88 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers at the Rose Garden that had no impact in the standings, was a high-stakes affair after all, a notion that became all too clear in the fourth quarter, probably just when they thought the coast was clear. What a tease.

Vlade Divac, forced out two games ago because of a back problem and sidelined the night before, returned, played 32 minutes and said afterward, “I feel surprisingly well.” Magic Johnson, back from his three-game suspension for bumping referee Scott Foster, was rusty with his shot, but played 33 minutes off the bench, had a game-high 10 assists, then declared his bothersome left Achilles’ tendon is much better and ready to take the pounding of 40-minute outings in the playoffs.

The Lakers were all the way into the fourth quarter with no greater worry than getting hammered on the boards, and the Trail Blazers have been known to do that to a lot of teams. The Houston Rockets, the playoff opponent starting Thursday at the Forum, were right around the corner.

Just beyond that banana peel.

The latest reminder that quiet nights are reserved for other teams in the second half of this tumultuous season came with about 7:15 left. Anthony Peeler, a major factor as the Lakers finished with wins in 12 of 16 games and a key to their postseason prospects, was running downcourt when he came to a halt near midcourt, clutching the back of his right leg. Within seconds, and before play could be stopped, he sat down on the court.

“I’ve never felt anything like that before,” Peeler said of the pain.

He had suffered a strained right calf. The Lakers could not say afterward how serious the injury was, and how much time it would cost Peeler at the most critical time of the season, because they would have to wait overnight for an examination by team physician Steve Lombardo and to see how the muscle swells, but there was some cause for concern.

He could miss Game 1 on Thursday, if not longer. Even in a best-case scenario, he could sit out important practice time as the Lakers try to fine-tune for the Rockets.

All the uncertainty even had the usually upbeat Peeler worried.

“A little bit,” he said after hobbling from the shower to his locker and then gently easing himself into a chair. “It’s frustrating that it happened now. But I’ve got confidence in our trainer [Gary Vitti]. I think he can get me back.”

The success of Peeler and other outside weapons such as Sedale Threatt, Eddie Jones and Nick Van Exel--who Sunday served the seventh and last game of his suspension for giving a referee a forearm shove--will be crucial if the Lakers are to beat Houston. If they are missing, Elden Campbell, Divac and Johnson will face double teams every time the ball goes into the post. If they are on target, Rocket defenders will pay for that lack of respect for the outside game.

Peeler has been the hottest of those counted on to supply air cover, going 25 of 53 on three-point attempts the previous nine games. Then he made three more in five tries against the Trail Blazers on a night in which he tied Jones for team-high honors with 20 points, even with the early exit.

Jones’ final contributions were the biggest of the night. The Trail Blazers trailed, 90-88, when they went to midcourt to take the ball in after a timeout with 10.3 seconds left. James Robinson tried to pass to Aaron McKie on the inbounds play, But Jones edged ahead of his former Temple teammate, intercepted, and was fouled immediately.

At the line with 9.4 seconds remaining, he made two free throws for a 92-88 lead, providing an exciting finish to the regular season. Given an option, the Lakers would probably just as soon have taken an uneventful one.

Laker Notes

Magic Johnson made only one of seven shots, but was pleased with the showing in that he spent a lot of time at point forward and little in the post, better enabling him to get back in sync with the offense. “The leg is good,” he said. “Everything is well. I’ve been working out on it. I’m ready to go.” . . . The Lakers finished with the sixth-best record in the league at 53-29, a five-game improvement from last season. . . . Playoffs rosters are due today. Barring a last-minute change, the Lakers will submit their current 12, meaning Fred Roberts stays and Pig Miller is done for the season. . . . The Trail Blazers played without two starters, Rod Strickland and Arvydas Sabonis, but they are expected to be ready for Thursday’s opener at Utah.

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

Playoff Series at a Glance

LAKERS vs. HOUSTON ROCKETS

* Game 1--Thursday at Forum, 7:30

* Game 2--Saturday at Forum, 12:30

* Game 3--April 30 at Houston, 6

* Game 4--May 2 at Houston, TBA

* Game 5--May 4 at Forum, TBA

All times Pacific

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Tracking Magic Johnson’s comeback

SUNDAY’S GAME