Lakers Reach Into the Past and Put Pressure on Suns : NBA playoffs: Threatt and Scott play key roles as Los Angeles wins opening game at Phoenix.

PHOENIX —  Mocked as the “Los Angeles Remnants” in a Phoenix newspaper Friday, the Lakers showed the Suns they had enough remnants of pride and clutch scoring to reclaim at least one more moment of their old glory.

Sedale Threatt scored a career playoff-high 35 points, including the clinching free throw with 3.5 seconds to play, as the Lakers stunned the Suns, 107-103, at the America West Arena in the opening game of their best-of-five playoff series.

“I knew 12 guys and the coaching staff believed in us,” Threatt said after the Lakers became the first eighth-seeded team to defeat a top-seeded team on the No. 1 team’s home floor.

“We didn’t worry too much that no one else gave us a chance. We just wanted to go out and play good basketball.”

They played splendidly down the stretch, outscoring the Suns, 11-2, in the last 3:19 to defeat Phoenix for the first time after five regular-season losses.

“It’s only one game,” Laker Coach Randy Pfund said, repressing any hints of jubilation after his triumphant playoff coaching debut. “I think the thing I’m most pleased with is we played really, really smart basketball tonight. We knew we could play well, and they’re a very talented team and they present many problems. . . . There were some wonderful efforts, some wonderful digout plays. Bryon Scott digging out the loose ball and getting fouled at the end (with 9.4 seconds to play) was big . . .

“I like our experience. That’s part of the reason you hang with veteran guys. But you still have to do it on the floor.”

Scott (22 points) made the first of two free throws to give the Lakers a 104-103 lead with 29 seconds to play, prompting Phoenix to call a timeout. After a frenzied scramble beneath the basket, Scott doggedly pursued the ball and finally drew a foul by Danny Ainge as the two tussled near midcourt. With 9.4 seconds to play and the crowd of 19,023 screaming, Scott made both free throws for a 106-103 lead.

“Byron Scott was the difference in the game,” said Charles Barkley, who had 34 points and 15 rebounds for the Suns. “Every time they needed a point, it seemed like he or Sedale Threatt got it for them. You just can’t let guys dominate us like that. Sedale was the best player on the court tonight.”

Dan Majerle missed a three-point attempt and Ainge fouled Threatt, who made the second of two free throws for his 35th point.

“They outplayed us,” said Ainge, who had 10 points--including the Suns’ only three-point field goal in 11 attempts. “They played really good defense . . . They were better than we were tonight. This was an emotional wake-up call for us.”

Said Vlade Divac, who had 12 points and a team-high 10 rebounds: “It’s a big win for us. I still think Phoenix is the best team in the league and the favorite in this series, but if we have the chance, we’re going to take the chance. We played this game (like) we needed it more than they are needing it.”

The team that has won the series opener has gone on to win the series on 62 of 72 occasions since the best-of-five format was adopted in 1984.

The Suns pulled even at 93-93 with 5:40 to play after Barkley followed up a missed free throw by Tom Chambers, and they took the lead on a jumper by Barkley 19 seconds later. An outside jumper by Threatt brought the Lakers within 97-95 with four minutes to play, but a layup by Majerle rolled in and Divac made only one of two free throws, leaving the Suns with a 99-96 advantage with 3:34 left.

Phoenix increased its lead to 101-96 on a jumper by Ainge, but the Lakers replied when Divac followed a miss by James Worthy. Good defense by Scott, who tipped a Sun pass far enough toward midcourt to pressure Phoenix into a 24-second violation, left the Lakers with a 103-101 deficit with 1:29 to play and the ball in their possession.

That opportunity was wasted when Chambers stole a pass by Threatt, but the Lakers weren’t through. Divac stole a pass by Chambers and fed Worthy, whose dunk tied the score, 103-103, with 46.8 seconds to play.

Barkley wasn’t sure how the Lakers would defend against him, but he was prepared to be double- and triple-teamed.

“I don’t think they’re going to let me beat them. They’re going to make other people beat them,” he said. “If anybody has any pressure in this series, it’s Negele Knight because he’s going to have a lot of (open) jumpers.”

Although assistant coach Larry Drew’s scouting report recommended playing Barkley straight up and avoiding leaving Knight or Majerle open on the outside, Pfund chose a variety of defenses. “Throwing everything but the kitchen sink at Charles, that’s the only way to describe it,” said Pfund, who had Elden Campbell and A.C. Green guard Barkley at different times.

Lacking a player of Barkley’s stature, the Lakers were hoping Green, Worthy and Scott would assume leadership roles.

“We don’t have do anything special. It’s more by what we do and the typical locker-room stuff. I know I looked up to the experienced guys when I was younger.”

The three did lead by example in the first half, as did Threatt. With Worthy contributing seven points and three rebounds, Green grabbing a team-high six rebounds, Scott scoring seven points and Threatt leading both teams with 16 points, the Lakers went on a 16-4 run en route to a 53-46 halftime lead.

* CLIPPERS

Ron Harper’s knee injury is only a strained ligament, but Los Angeles is still in trouble against the Houston Rockets. C4