Lakers Starting to Age Quickly

The Lakers lived about half of those six weeks that Shaquille O’Neal and Robert Horry will sit out together on Friday night, getting a last-place, beat-up team on their doorstep just before a difficult stretch and then almost getting bumped off.

That they hung tough and defeated the Vancouver Grizzlies, 99-91, before 17,031 at the Forum came largely because Elden Campbell scored 21 of his 23 points in the second half and 11 in the decisive fourth quarter, including eight near the very end. That they needed to hang tough to beat the Vancouver Grizzlies, on the heels of home losses to Seattle and Cleveland, indicates that maybe all the talk about playing on with a stiff upper lip is one thing, but reality is quite another.

“I think we all knew it would be a struggle,” Byron Scott said. “But I don’t think we knew it would be this much of a struggle. I don’t think we thought it would be this tough. We’re coming up against teams looking forward to playing us because of the injuries.”

This time, at least, the depleted bench held together. Scott, for example, scored only four points but still played a key role as one of the components of the three-guard lineup Coach Del Harris used the entire final period. Sean Rooks made a nice first-half contribution. Travis Knight, who would be a reserve if not for O’Neal going down, shook off a sore ankle, played 36 minutes and added 14 points, nine rebounds and four blocks.

Such is their new transition game. Injuries and new arrivals, like George McCloud, who pass physicals before tipoff but still can only watch from the bench in street clothes because of extenuating circumstances.

McCloud’s journey to Los Angeles actually began in Vancouver on Tuesday, the day after his suddenly former Maverick teammates had played the Grizzlies and he flew to New Jersey to meet his new team. Physical No. 1 started that night and was finished the next day . . . just in time for good health to be confirmed for the next leg.

By Thursday night, he had flown from Newark to Dallas to pick up some things. Friday morning, he continued to LAX, arriving about 9:30 a.m., in plenty of time for physical No. 2, a formality, and to get some sleep, in case he wanted to suit up at night.

Without so much as a shoot-around as a Laker, McCloud might not have played anyway, but the decision was ultimately made for them because Joe Kleine had not yet taken his physical with the Nets, a technicality needed before the trade becomes official.

And because Kleine is not scheduled to be examined until Sunday morning, McCloud will also have to sit out today’s Laker practice. His availability for the 12:30 game against New York at the Forum will depend on how fast the Nets’ medical staff gives the thumbs up. Then, it’s Harris’ call whether to throw him in cold against the Knicks.

So McCloud spent Friday night on the Laker bench, Kleine, presumably, in Phoenix with the family he will suddenly get to see far less of, making full use of the 48 hours all players get to report after a trade. He’ll go to New Jersey today.

“No one needs an explanation,” Harris said. “It’s obvious. The rules are 48 hours. He’s leaving his family behind in Phoenix, and there’s obviously no urgency for him to get to New Jersey, if you know what I mean.”

Because it’s New Jersey?

Because it’s the Nets?

Well, that too.

“It’s just I don’t think he’s a major part of their scheme,” Harris said.

That McCloud wasn’t part of the Lakers’ scheme Friday soon became only one of their concerns. More pressing was that, with Knight in the opening lineup but at less than 100% because of the sprained left ankle suffered Wednesday, Campbell picked up his second foul with the game 4:19 old and his third with 3:35 left in the second quarter.

This came after Eddie Jones had returned to the backcourt and Jerome Kersey got the call at small forward because of matchups with the big Vancouver frontcourt, so the Lakers’ available big men off the bench were Rooks and Corie Blount.

Rooks went in and played well, but the Grizzlies still turned a 33-22 deficit with 8:39 remaining in the first half into a 45-42 lead at intermission. The Lakers took the lead back by the end of the third quarter, 72-70, but they could not take control.

* ROAD WOES FOR CLIPPERS

Third quarter is the biggest problem again in a 114-96 loss to Hornets at Charlotte. C4

* ALONZO, MEET SHAQ

Not only was Miami’s 11-game win streak ended, center Alonzo Mourning might be out six weeks. C5