Cavaliers Slow, but Lakers Slower

Another night, another match of offensive wills between the Cavs and the Cav-Nots.

In the molasses that is the Cleveland attack, the Lakers struggled for shots, managing only 70, 12 fewer than the season average. They labored for points, tying the low for 1995-95.

They also lost Saturday night to the walk-it-up Cavaliers, 93-82, before 15,380 at the Forum. A trampling never looked so mild.

“The obvious story is that we must have left our game cross-town last night,” Laker Coach Del Harris said after the Lakers went from beating the Clippers to extend a winning streak to four games, to scoring 82 points for the third time this season.

“We had no focus, no energy, no effort,” Harris said. “It was like trying to light a fire with wet kindling.

“It’s not enough to win four in a row. You’ve got to protect the home court. We got out-played by a team that doesn’t have as much talent overall, I think, as us. But they [the Cavaliers] play as a team. They are well-coached, and they play with a lot of heart. You’ve got to give them credit.”

In turn, Cleveland gave the Lakers chances in the second half. All were wasted.

“We kind of got them out of their rhythm tonight,” Cavalier center Michael Cage said after getting 16 points and 10 rebounds, compared to the two points and three rebounds in 19 minutes by counterpart Vlade Divac. “As a result, it worked in our favor. It was a game where we didn’t find ourselves being overmatched by bigger opponents.”

Nick Van Exel led the Lakers with 17 points. His best work came during a third-quarter comeback when the Lakers erased a halftime deficit. The Lakers scored the first eight points of the second half to earn a 53-53 tie. The deadlock lasted one more possession, when Van Exel assisted on George Lynch’s basket.

Cleveland built an eight-point lead at the end of the third quarter.

Then it was Anthony Peeler’s turn. He hit a jump shot from the right side to open the final period, followed by one from straight away. Soon after, he hit a three-point basket, bringing the Lakers, finding more success with a small lineup, within 71-68. A basket by Sedale Threatt made it a one-point game.

The Cavaliers answered again, using a 16-6 run for an 11-point cushion with 3:15 remaining. The Lakers cut that to a five-point margin with 1:53 left, but could get no closer.

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Laker Notes

Magic Johnson, having changed his mind from a couple weeks ago, has decided to practice with the Lakers after all. But unlike in early January, when joining the workouts would have been the first step to a possible comeback, all indications are that he has no plans to play again--or at least no more plans than usual. He’s taken part in two practices, will continue to practice as his schedule allows, and, at least outwardly, appears to have the blessing of the same players he has ripped for being selfish or unmotivated. “I only think it can benefit the team, from the simple fact that he’s won championships and knows what it takes to win and that’s the kind of person we need on the team to be honest with you,” said one team captain, Nick Van Exel. And of welcoming someone who has been critical? “Some guys may like it, some guys may not like it,” Van Exel said. “For me, things like that don’t bother me. I want to win, that’s the bottom line. If he can help our team win, I’m all for it.” . . . Van Exel, the 37th pick in 1993, has become only the fifth player from that draft to score 3,000 points and the first from the second round.

There may be some positive health news coming to the Cavaliers for a change. Starting power forward Tyrone Hill, out because of a bruised spine since a Nov. 7 auto accident, has been practicing with the team for the last week and may be activated in a few days. Starting center Brad Daughtery, however, is another matter. The Cavaliers were hopeful he would be ready to play sometime around the All-Star break, but that now appears wishful thinking. Next month will mark two years on the sidelines for Daugherty because of back problems. Michael Cage is putting up big rebounding numbers in his absence. . . . Harold Miner is not injured, just at the end of the Cleveland bench. Saturday marked the eighth consecutive game in which the former USC star did not play because of a coach’s decision and the 22nd in all.