Ignore This 1 for 10? Magic Says He’s Ready : Lakers: Johnson misses nine shots but says it’s time for ‘the real deal.’ L.A. drops exhibition finale to Cavaliers, 103-92.

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. —  Magic Johnson pronounced himself ready for his return to the NBA Friday night despite a 1-for-10 shooting performance in the Lakers’ exhibition finale, a 103-92 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers.

“A lot of them, I know I should have made,” said Johnson, who scored eight points. “Just hopefully, on Friday, they won’t be short, that’s the whole thing.

“I’m in good shape. I’ve been doing just what I’m supposed to do, run the ball up,” he said. “Everything is ready to go. I’m kind of tired of exhibition and ready to get the real deal going.”

Johnson played 28 minutes, sank all six free throws and had five assists. He sat out a few minutes in the first quarter when he got a scratch on his right arm which required a bandage. He later covered the bandage with a sweatband.

Through his five exhibition appearances, Johnson had made 14 of 39 shots and has 59 assists.

Johnson’s first regular-season game comes against the Clippers on Friday night.

“I think I’m looking forward to it a little bit more, but not that much more,” he said. “I love to play. It’s a thing where I’m ready to get it going.”

Sam Perkins’ baseline jumper early in the second quarter gave the Lakers a 31-20 lead, but the Cavaliers finished the quarter with a 14-2 run for a 50-45 halftime advantage.

John Battle’s two free throws with 44 seconds left in the third quarter extended Cleveland’s lead to 78-66, but Perkins led a rally that cut the gap to 82-80 with 7:30 remaining.

The Cavaliers responded with eight straight points and led by as much as 99-84 on Jay Guidinger’s follow shot with 1:31 left.

Perkins led the Lakers with 19 points. Vlade Divac added 17, Byron Scott 14 and Worthy 12.

John Williams scored 22 points to lead Cleveland, which evened its exhibition mark at 4-4.