INGLEWOOD, Calif. -- Maybe you expected Earvin Johnson.

You saw a guy who appeared somewhat pudgy, 27 pounds heavier and a step slower than his last NBA game in 1991 and, at 36, much older than his heyday when he engineered Showtime in the mid-80s.

You figured to see some rust, some bad timing, and plenty of hands-on-knees in typical out-of-shape breathing exertions during free throws.

But maybe you forgot about the patented no-look pass. And the baby hook. And the left-handed baby hook.

His name, remember: Magic.

Magic Johnson didn't start for the Los Angeles Lakers for the first time in his basketball career. He came off the bench less than three minutes into the Tuesday night game, however, and missed his first shot -- a short hook attempt over Golden State Warriors rookie Joe Smith -- but quickly helped turn a 10-4 Laker lead into a 19-6 rout.

The Lakers resembled the fast-breaking Magic-led contingent which won five NBA titles in the 80s, romping to 72 first-half points and coasting to a 128-118 victory. In 27 minutes, Johnson nearly collected a triple-double -- the statistic he made famous -- with 19 points, 10 assists and eight rebounds.

"When I went out on the floor, it was like I didn't know where I was," said Johnson, who retired prior to the 1991 season after contracting HIV, the virus that causes AIDS.

"I was out there, but I didn't feel it until I went up for a defensive rebound and Joe Smith hit me from behind and Rony Seikaly knocked me forward and it was bam-bam-bam. Then I woke up."

Remember the name: Magic.

Johnson still had his great ball fakes. As always, he looked to run the fast break -- the Lakers scored a season-high point total and had a season-best 44 assists -- even though since he played forward the ball wasn't in his hands as often as the old days.

His first basket was a driving layin with 5:58 left in the first quarter over Smith, the 20-year-old rookie, who, like Johnson, left college after his sophomore season and became the top selection in the NBA draft.

"Once I got him retreating I knew I was going up, because he couldn't get any elevation while retreating," Johnson said.

Johnson was matched early against the raw youngster -- and looked much like the wily veteran. He schooled Smith, who was left with single coverage in the low past, with a fake pass and twisted in for an easy layin. He brought out the junior skyhook, learned from Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, draining shots with both hands.

Yes, Johnson paid attention to his elders.

Los Angeles hopes the same will happen with the current group of Lakers.

They came out energized and hot, hitting their first five baskets and keeping up that pace for most of the game, shooting 57 percent. Cedric Ceballos filled the lane with dunks and flare, and finished with 33 points on 15-for-18 shooting. Nick Van Exel hit three 3-pointers and scored 16 points. Elden Campbell, who along with Vlade Divac is the only current Laker who played with Magic back in his first stint which ended June 12, 1991, had a strong effort with 14 points, nine rebounds and eight assists.

"It's amazing," Divac said. "Having him back is great. I can't even describe it. Everybody is a better player with him on the team."

Sedale Threatt, who scored 13 points, said Johnson hasn't missed a beat. "It's exciting. You know something exciting is going to happen with him in the game. He's looking to pass, he's a team player. That's his game," he said.

Johnson shot 7 of 14 from the field. The former point guard played mostly at forward but did handle the ball for brief stretches, including the final two minutes, when the Warriors cut the deficit to six points.

After trailing in double digits almost the entire second half, Latrell Sprewell's third straight basket pulled Golden State within 121-115 with 1:35 to go. Johnson then set up Van Exel, who hit a 3-pointer with 42 seconds left to seal the win.

Johnson's veteran influence should be a key for the young Lakers, who have won eight of their past nine games.

"We're a young team, we just needed one veteran guy who's seen it all in the NBA,'' said reserve guard Anthony Peeler, who netted 13 points. "Now, we've got it. I got some jumpers tonight that were just wide open."

Johnson admitted he still has to achieve NBA shape. "I used to dominate but now I'm learning how to play," he said. "Learning the offense, where I'm going to fit in. I have to learn that Nick Van Exel, Cedric and Peeler are the guys that are going to dominate. I'm just going to pick my spots and I'll get mine."

"Terrific," Lakers coach Del Harris said. "It was great for the crowd, great for Earvin and great for the players. We got a little careless, had a little bit too much fun in the fourth quarter. I thought Magic Johnson was terrific."

The game ended with Johnson dribbling the ball at midcourt and pumping his first as the buzzer sounded. And with his trademark grin.

You know the name: Magic.

Box Score

GOLDEN STATE (118)
                                               Rebounds
Player           Pos  Min  Fgm-Fga  Ftm-Fta  Off-Def-Tot  Ast  Pf  St  To  Pts
Smith             F    36    6-14    11-14     3   7  10    2   6   1   2   23
Kersey            F    17    0-2      2-2      0   0   0    0   2   2   1    2
Seikaly           C    14    1-4      0-0      2   2   4    0   4   0   3    2
Sprewell          G    38   10-18     2-4      3   5   8    7   2   3   2   22
Armstrong         G    17    5-7      0-0      0   0   0    3   3   1   1   10
Gatling                28    9-14     3-5      1   7   8    0   2   0   1   21
Mullin                 29    4-8      2-2      2   1   3    4   1   1   4   10
Hardaway               34    7-11     7-9      0   1   1   10   2   3   6   24
Barry                  10    1-4      0-0      0   0   0    0   0   0   0    2
Rozier                 17    1-3      0-0      1   5   6    2   4   1   1    2
DeClercq              DNP - Coach's decision
Marshall              DNP - Coach's decision

Totals                240   44-85    27-36    12  28  40   28  26  12  21  118
                            (.518)   (.750) Team Rebs: 21 Total To: 21(28 Pts)

L.A. LAKERS (128)
                                               Rebounds
Player           Pos  Min  Fgm-Fga  Ftm-Fta  Off-Def-Tot  Ast  Pf  St  To  Pts
Campbell          F    30    7-10     0-2      0   9   9    8   4   0   0   14
Ceballos          F    37   15-18     3-3      4   3   7    3   2   1   2   33
Divac             C    31    6-13     0-1      5   4   9    4   4   1   3   12
Jones             G    25    3-7      0-0      0   1   1    4   3   3   0    6
Van Exel          G    29    5-10     3-3      0   1   1    6   2   0   5   16
Johnson                27    7-14     5-6      2   6   8   10   5   2   4   19
Peeler                 24    5-11     0-0      0   1   1    2   1   3   1   13
Lynch                  11    0-2      2-2      0   0   0    0   1   0   0    2
Strong                  7    0-0      0-0      0   0   0    1   0   1   0    0
Threatt                19    6-10     0-0      0   1   1    6   4   1   1   13
Blount                DNP - Coach's decision
Miller                DNP - Coach's decision

Totals                240   54-95    13-17    11  26  37   44  26  12  16  128
                            (.568)   (.765) Team Rebs: 16 Total To: 16(23 Pts)

Golden State       28   35   22   33  -  118
LA Lakers          35   37   26   30  -  128

Blocked shots: Golden State -  Smith 2, Rozier. La Lakers -  Divac 2,
Campbell, Jones.

3-pointers: Golden State 3-11 (.273), Sprewell 0-1, Armstrong 0-2,
Mullin 0-1, Hardaway 3-6, Rozier 0-1. La Lakers 7-21 (.333), Jones 0-3,
Van Exel 3-6, Johnson 0-2, Peeler 3-6, Threatt 1-4.

Technicals: La Lakers - Campbell.
Officials: Ed Middleton, Ed F Rush, George Toliver.
Att: 17,505. Time: 2:16.