[0] GREEN POWER; IRONMAN A.C. LEADS LAKERS, TAMES MALONE : LAKERS 90, UTAH 82.

Byline: Howard Beck Daily News Staff Writer

An unparalleled streak of good health and good fortune defines A.C. Green as the NBA's King of Longevity. Its Ironman. Yet even as he advanced his record-setting string of consecutive games Wednesday night, Green lended another level of meaning to that term.

Outmuscled and undersized by at least 30 pounds, Green played Ironman to the NBA's Mailman, and his sturdy, stubborn defense against Karl Malone helped key the Lakers' 90-82 victory over the Utah Jazz at Staples Center.

The 36-year-old Green played his 1,041st consecutive game, tying the professional basketball record, but his most significant contributions could be found in Malone's statistical line: 23 field-goal attempts, 9 made, 22 points, four turnovers.

Green himself contributed just four points but pulled down 10 rebounds, added three steals, yanked a few loose balls away from Malone and generally disrupted his rhythm all night. Destroyed it, actually.

So the Lakers, who surprised the Jazz with a 91-84 victory opening night at the Delta Center, made it 2-0 against Utah. And Green made it 2-0 against Malone, who struggled through a 4-for-10, 14-point night the last time they met.

``His tenacity is just amazing,'' coach Phil Jackson said. ``This is a game which is kind of a hallmark game for him, having played the number of consecutive games he's played. . . . A.C. has been a big guy who's been durable, plays a hard, physical game and still survives, and comes out of each game with the same demeanor and intensity and kind of play that has given him a lot of credit and a great career.''

The even-keeled Green deferred praise but acknowledged he knows how to play Malone after more than a decade of banging with him.

``You have to match intensity for intensity. You have to be ready for that with him,'' he said. ``You just try and force him into areas he doesn't want to go. That's all you can really do with Karl. You're not going to stop him.''

The only thing Green didn't do was score much, but Shaquille O'Neal made that entirely irrelevant.

Busting through the defense of Olden Polynice and surviving a third-quarter poke to the right eye from Greg Ostertag, O'Neal punished the Jazz with 39 points, 18 rebounds, three blocked shots and four assists in a 45-minute stint. And he continued to recover at the foul line, hitting 11 of 20 free throws.

``Shaq had a wonderful game,'' Jackson said. ``I think that's probably one of the best games I've ever seen him play overall.''

The Lakers never trailed through three quarters and led 68-56 heading into the fourth. But seven minutes and a few Bryon Russell fast breaks later, the Jazz had whittled it down to a one-point game, 71-70, the run capped by a John Stockton 3-pointer.

Then Glen Rice, scoreless through the first two quarters, took the initiative, scoring five straight en route to a 21-point second half.

After Rice missed a free throw, it was Green who saved the possession with the rebound. Moments later, Green stole a Stockton pass, leading to a pair of O'Neal free throws at the other end, and a 10-point lead with 2:39 to go.

The only thing the Lakers lacked was a breakout performance from the bench. After three weeks of being carried almost solely by O'Neal, Rice and Derek Fisher (14 points), Jackson hoped for better support from the reserves Wednesday but didn't get it.

As it turned out, the Lakers only needed their starters, and a defensive effort that ranked among their best this season.

The Jazz shot 37.5 percent and never led.

``It was a very good defensive team effort today,'' said Ron Harper. ``Guys played team-help ball.''

A lively Lakers defense and slow-to-a-crawl offense helped them to a nine-point halftime lead, despite barely scratching the scoreboard themselves. O'Neal scored 17 points as the Lakers took a 38-29 lead into the locker room.

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Photo, box

Photo: (color) The Lakers' durable A.C. Green defends against Utah's John Stockton, but much of the night he was assigned to dog The Mailman, Karl Malone, and he did a terrific job of it.

Phil McCarten/Staff Photographer

Box: LAKERS 90, JAZZ 82