Orlando Nearly Thaws Lakers’ Refrigerator

Laker broadcaster Chick Hearn said on his pregame show that he could put Sunday night’s game against the injury-depleted Orlando Magic into the refrigerator.

It’s a good thing Hearn didn’t, because the Lakers were booed off the court at halftime after the Magic took a 56-46 lead at intermission.

But the Lakers scored a season-high 66 points during the second half and beat the Magic, 112-99, before 16,119.

“We had a bad scare in there,” Laker Coach Mike Dunleavy said after the game at the Forum. “We came out overconfident due to the fact they had so many guys out. It’s one of those things where they have guys playing for their NBA lives and they’re coming in trying to get a chance to play and show that they belong. They came out and played extremely hard and aggressive and took the game to us.

“We didn’t do a very good job as individuals and as far as the game plan was concerned. We had a lot of mental mistakes. We talked about it at halftime and we did a much better job as far as our coverages in the second half and our defense was much more aggressive in the second half.

“There’s no way we should be overconfident. Teams are coming in and they want to beat the Lakers. That part hasn’t changed.”

Guard Byron Scott scored a season-high 31 points, including 25 during the second half. Scott scored 16 points during the fourth quarter, making all five shots he took--including a three-pointer--as the Lakers outscored the Magic, 38-25.

“I wanted to make sure that I took the ball to the hole tonight,” Scott said. “The last few games I haven’t been hitting the outside shots, but tonight I got into a pretty good rhythm and I was able to break free and hit it from the outside.

“Tonight was one of those nights where I said I was going to force the issue by being more offensive minded, and that’s what I did.”

Scott, who had been in a shooting slump, making only 33.7% in his last nine games, sank 11 of 19 shots, including one of three three-point shots.

“I think Byron played great,” Dunleavy said. “He took the ball to the basket strong and made his outside shots. It was really good to see.”

A.C. Green, who suffered a hip pointer, added 25 points, making all 15 of his free throws, and had 11 rebounds. James Worthy had 23 points and nine rebounds.

“One of the big knocks on our team is that there’s no leadership on our team,” Scott said. “I think James (Worthy) and I are stepping forward, but I don’t think that James likes to be very vocal, whereas I like to be vocal and press the issue.”

Sam Perkins had a season-high 15 rebounds as the Lakers outrebounded the Magic, 47-38.

Trailing by 91-85 with 5 1/2 minutes to play, the Lakers outscored Orlando, 27-8.

“Basically, the game just slipped away in the last few minutes,” Orlando Coach Matt Guokas said. “But that’s nothing new for us. That has happened often this season.

“We play well for 35-38 minutes, then we have a tendency to fall apart when the game is on the line down the stretch.”

Terry Catledge led Orlando with 24 points and forward Jeff Turner added 18, including 14 during the first half. Guard Anthony Bowie had 16 and Sean Higgins added 15 points in 31 minutes off the bench.

Laker Notes

Laker guard Sedale Threatt said he was robbed at gunpoint of his new Mercedes Benz and $1,000 in cash by two men at a gas station across the street from the Forum after Friday night’s game against the Denver Nuggets.

Threatt said he was using a pay phone at the gas station when the two suspects approached him. One of the men pretended to use the phone, while his partner approached and pointed a gun at Threatt, who gave them the keys to his car, which he had had for three days, and his wallet.

Threatt, whose wife, Nicole, gave birth to their first child, Tyler Sedale, Friday morning, said he had an unusually large amount of cash because he was planning to shop for his son.

“As long as I’m OK, that was the biggest thing,” Threatt said. “The material stuff they can have. It doesn’t bother me. You are shaken by that, but now I’m very alert. I’m just glad they didn’t bother me.”

Threatt, who said the robbers probably didn’t know he plays for the Lakers, plans to move because the robbers have his wallet, which contained his identification.

“They have the address where we’re living now so we have to change the locks,” Threatt said. “It makes it kind of tough on my wife and her mother. So we’re definitely going to move. We’re going to try and get out as soon as possible.” The car has not been found. Police are still investigating.

Sean Higgins, a former Fairfax High and Michigan standout, made seven of 15 shots, including one of three three-point attempts. He also had seven rebounds. Higgins was signed to a 10-day contract by the Magic on Friday.