Lakers Don’t Want Any Fireworks for Defeating Rockets : Pro basketball: Eddie Jones returns for 107-96 victory; L.A. downplays 3-0 record against NBA champion Houston.

So the Lakers beat the Houston Rockets, 107-96, Sunday night at the Forum.

So what?

That’s what the Lakers say. So what that they moved out to a 1 1/2-game cushion over Houston for fifth place in the Western Conference with 15 games left? So what that they improved to 3-0 against the Rockets to clinch the season series, which, as the first tiebreaker for playoff positioning, essentially adds another game to L.A.’s lead?

“It says we’re 3-0 against the defending champions,� Cedric Ceballos said after getting 20 points and seven assists before a capacity 17,505. “It doesn’t mean anything. Just three wins that we needed.�

Added Eddie Jones, who returned after being sidelined for 18 games because of a sprained shoulder to contribute 12 points and four steals in 29 minutes: “That’s how we have to take it. We need all the wins we can get. Forget about the faces.�

That would be the victims’ faces. The Lakers have seen four such mugs in a row, even if they haven’t bothered to dwell on any. But let it be noted, for those around the Forum who may follow such matters, that two of those opponents, the Rockets and Portland Trail Blazers, are directly behind in the standings.

Now the Lakers go to Houston for a rematch Tuesday and a chance to put even more distance between themselves and the Rockets. Or something like that.

“It’s important tonight,� Coach Del Harris said. “But when the playoffs start, it won’t do any good to say, ‘How we won two games a month ago and how that’s really going to help us win tonight.’

“I believe in fate a lot. I believe in luck a lot. What you do is do your best, then accept the lot and go from there. I believe this, ‘I’d rather play Team A or Team B or Team C (in the playoffs)’ is counterproductive.�

OK, then. In the game that mattered for one night. . . .

Jones’ entrance with 3:31 to go in the first quarter was greeted by a huge ovation. That quickly became only one of the many highlights as the Lakers built an 18-point lead, 39-21, with 7:08 remaining in the half.

The Rockets cut that to 10 just before intermission, only to slip again and fall behind by 15 points midway through the third period. It looked even bleaker for the defending champions when Hakeem Olajuwon got his fourth foul with 2:23 left and then, before another dead ball allowed Pete Chilcutt to take his place, his fifth foul with 2:09 showing.

Olajuwon didn’t return until 5:05 remained in the fourth quarter, a span of a little more than eight minutes. But instead of going under, the Rockets actually prospered during his absence, starting the fourth quarter with a 21-6 charge to take an 86-82 lead. By the time Olajuwon went in again, the Lakers had moved back ahead, 91-88.

A 14-4 run by the Lakers followed immediately--Sedale Threatt had six of the points while making a significant contribution off the bench with 12 points and seven assists--to cement the victory.

Jones made only four of 14 shots, but his biggest problem was being tentative with the shoulder, to the point that he decided against a dunk on one play, opted for a layup, and missed. Write it off as butterflies.

“I was just thinking too much,� he said.

Jones’ roster spot opened when Tony Smith went on the injured list because of the strained left calf that has been plaguing him for weeks. Harris had even held Smith out of the previous two games because of the weakened state of the leg.