[0] LAKERS PLAY, WIN IN UNISON : LAKERS 108 SACRAMENTO 99.

Byline: Eric Noland Daily News Staff Writer

The trainer's room, at last, is mercifully empty. The Lakers have all their guys back, their lineup intact. And, remarkably, it's as if no one was ever away.

Forward Elden Campbell, who had missed five of the previous seven games with a bruised rear end, returned to the court Thursday night at the Forum - and rejoined center Shaquille O'Neal in the lineup for the first time since the middle of February. If there was any concern that the two would have some rough edges, it was put to rest quickly against the woeful Sacramento Kings.

Campbell scored 21 points and, more important, complemented O'Neal nicely in a 108-99 victory before 17,505 fans.

O'Neal, who also is showing no ill effects from his extended layoff - 42 points, 12 rebounds and uncanny accuracy at the free-throw line (12 of 14, 10 in a row at one stretch) - said, ``I told Elden before the game, `A lot of people think we can't play together. Let's show them.'

``There are going to be times when Elden's the go-to guy and times when I'm the go-to guy. We've got to take advantage of whoever's hot.''

At the moment, there should be no doubt as to who that is. O'Neal, in only his third outing since spending 28 games on the injury list with a severe knee injury, is positively blazing.

His point total was the highest for a Lakers player since Cedric Ceballos rang up 50 in the 1994-95 campaign. In his three games since bouncing back, O'Neal is averaging 35 points and 12 rebounds.

Coach Del Harris, however, seemed most pleased that his two big men didn't repeatedly crash into one another and end up in a frustrated heap beneath the basket. ``Any question about whether Elden and Shaq can play together are rested, at least for the moment,'' he said. ``They played a very strong game.''

Campbell's cause was undoubtedly aided by his opportunity to operate Shaq-less for a month and a half. ``We have two more games,'' said Campbell, who was accommodated in this game with repeated low-post plays called for him, with O'Neal clearing out. ``We've got some practice time. It's just a matter of getting the job done.''

The victory, the Lakers' 10th in their last 12 games, improved their record to 55-25 and enabled them to keep directing hot breath onto the neck of Seattle (56-25 after Thursday night's victory over Denver) in the Pacific Division. The Lakers can claim the title, and the No. 2 playoff seed it represents, by dispatching the Clippers tonight at the Sports Arena and winning at Portland in the regular-season finale Sunday.

Against the Kings, whom they've beaten six in a row, the Lakers broke open a tight game in the third quarter.

Much of the spark came from a barrage of three consecutive 3-pointers by Eddie Jones, Nick Van Exel and Robert Horry midway through the period. But an exclamation point was provided soon after by Campbell and O'Neal.

Campbell drove down the left side of the lane, drew the defense, then rifled a pass underneath to O'Neal, who slammed it through.

``It's about playing basketball, playing smart,'' said Horry. ``People always say, `You haven't played together for a while.' But we've all been playing basketball since we were 10 years old. We know where to go. We know what to do.''

The Lakers' playoff prospects are further brightened by the evidence that O'Neal suddenly knows what to do with the ball when he gets to the free-throw line. A 46.9 percent shooter this season, he canned 11 of 18 in a win over Utah last Sunday, then upped the ante to 85.7 percent in this one.

O'Neal admitted he has been receiving some tutoring from former Lakers great Magic Johnson, who apparently broke the task down to some simple elements.

``He gave me one or two pointers: Bend your knees and shoot up,'' O'Neal said. ``Everybody tells me that, but when a guy like Magic says it, it sticks.''

CAPTION(S):

Photo, 2 Photos

Photo: Lakers' Shaquille O'Neal puts it up over Sacramento's Olden Polynice.

Tina Gerson / Daily News

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