Knight Impresses With Shooting Range

The lower part of his left leg can serve as an inspiration for Dennis Rodman’s hairdresser--”an ankle that looks like a rainbow, with all those colors,” Coach Del Harris said--but Travis Knight plays on. Actually, he does more than that.

In Sunday’s double-overtime loss to New York, the 7-foot rookie the Lakers knew always had admirable shooting range for a big man displayed it for the first time as a pro, making the Knick defense pay when they left him alone on the perimeter to double team Elden Campbell inside. Playing 50 minutes on the ankle he turned Wednesday against the Cavaliers, Knight scored a season-high 18 points on nine-for-17 shooting, with four of the baskets coming on jump shots from 16 to 20 feet out.

“I know what my range is,” Knight said. “I’m not going to be out there gunning up threes. But with a 24-second clock, you’ve got to take open shots when you get them.”

Knight also had 13 rebounds, six on offense.

*

The Lakers got the word about 9 a.m., about 3 1/2 hours before tipoff, that Joe Kleine had passed his physical in New Jersey, making the acquisition of George McCloud official. McCloud then played 16 minutes off the bench without so much as a shootaround to become familiar with his new team, including being put in for a critical stretch near the end of regulation as Harris tried to load up on shooters.

“It seemed like there were four guys in a set offense and I was in the playground mode--running to an open spot and waiting for the ball,” McCloud said. “But for the most part, I think I got to the places.”

He made two of four attempts, including both three-point shots. Harris was pleased with the start of his newest player, especially considering McCloud had not been able to do anything but watch one practice and one game because Kleine hadn’t yet taken his physical with the Nets.