More Magic, Less Hakeem

So where were the Lakers before being so rudely interrupted? Of course. Healthy and happy and, if not on top of the world, then at least not having their shoulders used as a ladder by others making the climb.

It was as if they regained the past Saturday. Magic Johnson liked the idea so much that he went all the way back to another generation of teammates, to a time when it was his ball and his game and everybody else could just get out of the way.

Figure Johnson likes his role just fine now, which makes sense since he defined it. Putting the frustration of the post-or-perimeter issue behind him, he took over the game in a couple of stages during the second half and scored a game-high 26 points as the Lakers recovered from the horrible offensive showing two days earlier to defeat the Houston Rockets, 104-94, at the Forum and even the best-of-five first-round series at 1-1.

There were comebacks within the comeback. Anthony Peeler returned after sitting out Game 1 because of a strained calf muscle to score nine of his 12 points in the decisive fourth quarter. Nick Van Exel didn’t shoot the ball much better, improving from one of 11 in the opener to five of 14, but at least he wasn’t passing up open chances. And the Lakers as a whole increased their scoring by 19points and their shooting from 34.9% to 44.6%.

But more than anything--maybe even more than Hakeem Olajuwon fouling out with 10:05 remaining--there was Johnson.

“I’m a guy who prepares probably more than anybody else and when that preparation is thrown off, I’m thrown off,” he said, alluding to critical comments that Coach Del Harris unexpectedly changed his role during Game 1. “I just said forget it. I was tired of that run they had. I just said, ‘Hey, I’m gonna just go back to me now. I’m tired of this. Give me the ball, everybody get out of the way, and let’s go.’

“Before, I didn’t have to tell anybody. But now [with the new teammates], I’ve got to say, ‘Uh-uh. Nobody’s taking it but me.’ ”

The Rockets have only themselves to blame--it was their 16-2 run in the third quarter, worth a 62-56 lead, that ignited Johnson. They came back from a 14-point deficit in the first quarter and headed for trouble all in one motion.

Seconds later, Johnson assisted on Vlade Divac’s dunk, the Lakers’ first basket in 3 1/2 minutes. The next possession, Johnson drew a foul, got to the line and made both free throws. He kept penetrating.

Of the final seven Laker baskets those last five minutes, Johnson had a hand in five, either with an assist or by scoring himself. The Lakers, not coincidentally, had a five-point lead heading into the fourth.

Rocket problems were just beginning. Ninety-six seconds into the final quarter, they found a new definition for trouble when Olajuwon picked up his fifth foul, then stayed in the game when Sam Mack hadn’t reached the scorer’s table in time for the substitution.

The Lakers didn’t waste the chance, going right at Olajuwon by getting the ball to Elden Campbell on the left post. Campbell, unable to generate a decent shot, couldn’t draw the sixth foul, so he kicked it out. Peeler ended up with possession near the top of the key.

Showing no adverse signs from the leg injury, Peeler charged down the lane. Olajuwon and Robert Horry converged near the basket, swiping at the ball. The foul was obvious, but either could have been the culprit. The capacity crowd erupted in anticipation of the announcement.

“That was big,” Peeler said. “Then to look up and see 10 minutes on the clock.”

When official Hugh Evans signaled the foul was on Olajuwon, the first time the superstar center had been disqualified all season, the Laker bench joined in the celebration. They already had a 74-71 lead, even before Peeler made both free throws, and now Olajuwon was out of the way for the final 10:05.

The Rockets would stay close from there, but nothing more. Johnson made sure of that by getting eight points and four of his seven rebounds in the final period, highlighted by the six-foot hook in the lane that made for a 93-82 cushion with 4:30 to play.

“That broke our back right there,” Houston’s Sam Cassell said.

Such a comment was a major concession for the Rockets. In truth, they didn’t feel as if the Lakers had earned much more than a longer trip to Houston.

“We gave them the game,” said Olajuwon, who finished with 18 points and seven rebounds in 32 minutes while being gang-tackled in the post much more than when he scored 33 points Thursday. “They didn’t beat us. That is encouraging.”

Said Cassell: “I think so. This game was ours. Like Hakeem said, we gave it to them.”

Either that or Johnson took it.