Dunleavy Doesn’t Let Mail Through : Lakers: Malone shoves coach. Most L.A. regulars get some rest as Jazz ties for Midwest lead, 107-93.

SALT LAKE CITY —  This event didn’t have an undercard scheduled but they almost had one anyway when Karl Malone squared off mano a mano with . . .

Mike Dunleavy?

You bet your sweet mismatch. The 256-pound Utah forward shoved the 190-pound Laker coach Saturday during the Jazz’ 107-93 victory over the Lakers, to whom the game meant nothing and whose goal was to get out of town in one piece.

Are these Lakers tough? Dunleavy took Malone’s best shot--well, nudge--and lived to joke about it.

“Pretty formidable,” an amused Dunleavy said. “But that never stopped me from stepping in and taking the charge.”

The festivities started when Vlade Divac blocked Malone’s shot. The two fell over each other and Malone, as is his custom, kicked his legs.

Moments later, play was stopped . . . and the Mailman started stalking the Laker bench, upset that someone had said something.

“His imagination,” James Worthy said. “Television.”

Malone was actually coming to see assistant coach Randy Pfund, to find out what Pfund had been yelling. Pfund says he was only yelling at the referees.

“The names he was calling, I didn’t know who he was referring to,” Dunleavy said, laughing. “He didn’t use his proper name.”

Said Pfund: “I was looking at him and I saw him eyeballing me. Thank heaven, Mike stepped in front of him.”

Malone shoved, Dunleavy bounced off and they got back to the game.

“There are no hard feelings,” Malone said.

The Jazz was in the process of tying the Spurs atop the Midwest Division. If they finish that way after today’s final games, Utah will prevail, having won the season series.

The Lakers were mostly auditioning reserves and trying to make it look good enough for NBC and the league office.

Elden Campbell got another 25 minutes and played well, making five of eight shots.

More significantly, Larry Drew, passed over since rookie Tony Smith took his backup point spot at midseason, had a good first half. Dunleavy brought Drew, not Smith, back in the fourth quarter and seemed to indicate the position is open once more.

“I’m going to play whoever’s playing best at the time,” Dunleavy said.

The Lakers were trailing by 22 points when Malone pushed Dunleavy but cut it to 82-72 by the end of the third quarter.

Dunleavy kept Magic Johnson and Worthy on the bench for the entire fourth quarter but a lineup with one starter--Divac--plus Drew, Campbell, Terry Teagle and A.C. Green sliced it to 92-88.

Jazz Coach Jerry Sloan had been resting Karl Malone and Jeff Malone, probably hoping to keep them on the bench because Utah plays today at Golden State. However, he was obliged to put both back in and the Jazz prevailed.

At the key junctures, the Jazz got all the rebounds. At 92-88, John Stockton missed a driving layup in traffic and Drew came away with the rebound but Jazz backup center Mike Brown took it away from him. Karl Malone was fouled and hit one of two free throws. Divac was then called for an offensive foul and this time the Mailman hit a 16-footer.

The Lakers accepted defeat with the serenity of a team to whom it means nothing.

Karl Malone said he had “the utmost respect for Coach (Dunleavy),” and that he wanted to know what Pfund had been saying. Pfund and Malone talked afterward. Battle is pretty hot when the Mailman is in it.

They did fly home healthy. Mission accomplished.

Laker Notes

The Lakers’ playoff opponent is set--Houston. The five-game series opens Thursday night and Saturday afternoon in the Forum. Said Magic Johnson: “I think we’d all like to be in the East. We’re going to play a team in the first round that’s won 50 games (51 actually). That’s never happened before.” . . . The Lakers were 3-1 against Houston this season but played the Rockets only once after Hakeem Olajuwon returned, losing at the Forum, 104-95. . . . Vlade Divac, who had had two double-figure rebound games after March 1, played his finest game since February, scoring 19 points with 17 rebounds in 40 minutes. “Most players, nobody can play whole season good,” Divac said. “Everybody has some months up and down. Next year I want to be 70% up. It’s good for me and the Lakers. I’m now ready for the playoffs.” Divac left the game after getting kicked in the right thigh but was OK.