Magic Spells Trouble for Suns, 125-111

As good an indicator as any of the Lakers’ dominance over the Phoenix Suns Wednesday night was the early time at which Magic Johnson recorded his latest, and most routine, triple-double.

He achieved it with 4 minutes to play in the third quarter, the earliest of his 4 triple-double games this season. Then, their services no longer required, Johnson and the other regulars sat back and enjoyed the rest of the Lakers’ 125-111 victory over the setting Suns before a Forum crowd of 17,353.

This victory, which improved the Lakers’ NBA-best record to 14-3, was never really in doubt. So complete was the Laker blowout that backup center Mark McNamara played the entire fourth quarter, and seldom-used rookie David Rivers made an early entrance, logging 6 minutes.

But it was what Johnson and his cohorts did to the Suns in the first three quarters that put it away. Johnson had what is becoming an average night for him: 19 points, 12 rebounds, 18 assists.

Many of those assists went to Byron Scott, who scored 27 points after getting some shooting tips from Johnson the night before. Center Mychal Thompson had 15 points and 11 rebounds; Orlando Woolridge added 18 points and James Worthy 16. Tom Chambers led the Suns with 25 points, and Dan Majerle added 18.

The Lakers had to welcome an easy one after they worked a full shift before putting away the Clippers Tuesday night and logged overtime Sunday night before beating the Washington Bullets. “Anytime you get a break, you got to enjoy it,” said Johnson, who played only 32 minutes. “I’d like to win every game like that. But you know that’s not going to happen all the time.”

If the Lakers were to play all the time the way they did Tuesday night, neither Johnson nor any other starter would have to log 40 minutes again.

Once again shifting into their running game in the continued absence of center Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (bruised right knee), the Lakers ran the Suns off the court. They shot 53.3%, accumulated a season-high 62 rebounds and held Phoenix to 41.2% shooting.

The Lakers said they fully expected to beat the Suns, an attitude they carry into each game. But perhaps they weren’t expecting such an easy time. Although the Suns’ 9-8 start may be surprising because of the influx of new players, the Lakers are taking them seriously.

After all, Phoenix, which is tied for second place in the Pacific Division with the Seattle SuperSonics, came to the Forum with a 4-game winning streak, including a 38-point victory over Washington Tuesday night. But if the Suns are among the Lakers’ closest competition, the situation doesn’t appear too competitive for the Lakers.

“Of course, you figure that Seattle and Portland might overtake them,” Johnson said. “But that’s a good team. They had won 4 straight coming in.”

Scott, asked if the Suns are mere impostors or a real division rival, also took a diplomatic stance.

“It’s hard to say right now,” he said. “I don’t know if they are a second-place team. . . . But we feel that we shouldn’t lose any game here.”

There was no chance of that Wednesday. Even though Laker Coach Pat Riley said he expected “a real tough game,” the Lakers had few lapses en route to a 27-point lead early in the fourth quarter, when the mass substitutions were completed.

Only twice in the first half did the Suns come close to playing even with the Lakers. They tied it, 17-17, with 6 minutes left in the first quarter. And they pulled within 1 point during an 8-0 run midway through the second quarter.

The Suns’ expectations were such that Coach Cotton Fitzsimmons was pleased that his team trailed by only 10 points, 66-56, at halftime.

“I still thought we had a chance,” Fitzsimmons said. “I mean, they had shot 58% (in the first half) and we shot 42% and, still, we were only down by 10. I was encouraged by that.”

That was about all that Fitzsimmons found encouraging, although he gave his club a vote of confidence.

“We just didn’t play a good game tonight, and the Lakers were able to exploit us,” he said. “I’m disappointed with the way we played, but I’m not disappointed in my team. We’ll leave this one at the Forum and go on.”

So, too, will the Lakers.

They leave town Friday for a 7-game, 12-day trip that includes stops in Boston and Chicago. So an easy, non-stressful sendoff was cherished by all.

“We had a nice lead,” Worthy said. “It was good for the body. We were committed to finish out this home stand (playing well). We have played consistent the last couple of weeks. I was waiting for that game (a poor one), but it never came.”

Scott admittedly has been inconsistent in his outside shooting in recent games. Wednesday night, however, he made 12 of 17 shots--including a 3-pointer--and seemed to regain his misplaced rhythm.

He credits Johnson for helping to find it.

“I just hadn’t been shooting well,” Scott said. “The other (Tuesday) night, Magic told me I was falling back on my shots. In the second half (Tuesday), I felt it coming back. He was right about my problem.”

Johnson has not had to worry about lacking consistency this season. The triple-double was the 99th in his career. Any thoughts about going for No. 100?

“Not really,” Johnson said, smiling. “I just go out and play and try to get another win.”

Laker Notes

It is likely that Mark McNamara, the Lakers’ backup center, and the Clippers’ Benoit Benjamin will be fined more than the automatic $250 apiece by the National Basketball Assn. for their brief but bloodless fight Tuesday night at the Sports Arena. A tape of the incident was sent to the league office.

“They’ll certainly go ahead and fine me,” McNamara said. “But (the NBA) should show some discretion. Because when the person did what (Benjamin) did, elbowing you continually, you have to do something to protect yourself. Either that, or you’ll be hurt. They should consider my record. I never even had a technical in high school or college. When you get jumped in the park by a mugger, you shouldn’t get arrested for assault if you fight back. I fought back.”

If the recent fines for fighting given out by Rod Thorn, the NBA’s director of operations, are any indication, McNamara and Benjamin probably will be fined $1,000 to $2,000.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar missed his fifth straight game with a badly bruised right knee. He was examined Wednesday morning by team physician Dr. Stephen Lombardo, who reported that Abdul-Jabbar’s knee had not healed enough for him to practice again. He will accompany the Lakers to Indianapolis Friday for the start of a 7-game trip. Trainer Gary Vitti said Abdul-Jabbar is undergoing physical therapy to stay in condition until he is able to run.