[0] MAGIC SHOWS OFF OLYMPIC FORM\Triple-double leads Lakers past Hawks\LAKERS 87, ATLANTA 86.

Byline: Marc Stein Daily News Staff Writer

Consider the Olympic coach impressed. Defeated, too.

Lenny Wilkens, the winningest X-and-O man ever in the NBA, got beat Wednesday night by an equally distinctive bit of history.

Denying Wilkens victory No. 995 of his bench life was the record 138th triple-double of Magic Johnson's unparalleled career: 15 points, 13 assists and 10 rebounds that led the Lakers to an 87-86 victory over the Atlanta Hawks before 16,792 at the Forum.

The first treble of his comeback, after three near misses in Johnson's first five games back, spared the Lakers (29-19) a crushing home loss to start the second half . . . and probably didn't hurt his bid to earn a berth on Wilkens' Dream Team III.

"We never got credit - and I never got credit - for this type of win in the past," said Johnson, now 79 triple-doubles ahead of the guy in second place, retired Boston great Larry Bird.

"During Showtime, when we won a game like this, it was like, 'Ugh.' This is like a playoff game. You've got to slug it out."

Whether it was enough to get Johnson to Atlanta this summer will be determined later by a selection committee. As it was, the effort barely proved sufficient against the spunky Hawks (26-22), who succumbed only after Vlade Divac's clinching free throws with 18.5 seconds left.

"I was waiting for that moment all year long," said Divac, fouled by Andrew Lang after Johnson drove the lane and fed him.

"I've been waiting since the San Antonio misses (and his crucial misses in Game 2). I had confidence. I had a feeling I was going to hit them, especially since I had a bad game."

Divac, with almost as many turnovers (five) as points (eight), was just one of the contributors in a generally ugly game, the first for both teams after a week layoff.

The Lakers went without a basket for the final 4:46, after Johnson's eight-foot hook made it 84-79. Even Johnson got a little ragged at the end, missing one of two free throws with 42.1 seconds remaining and the Lakers' lead down to 84-83.

Craig Ehlo then shot Atlanta into an 86-85 lead with a 3-pointer with 25 seconds to go, but Johnson and Divac combined for the go-ahead points - two all-net free throws from the seventh-year center, who's shooting a career-low .637 from the line.

To seal Wilkens' 836th career defeat, Cedric Ceballos blocked Ehlo's potential game-winning 3 on the game's final possession.

"I told (Wilkens) this morning, I don't want him to feel any pressure, especially coming from me," said Johnson, who played the final 22 minutes en route to a season-high 39 minutes. "I want (them) to make the best selection for the team.

"If it happens, fine. If it doesn't happen, fine. I'm a big boy."

A lot bigger than he was as an original Dream Teamer in 1992, Magic maintains that his knowledge of the international game from touring the globe with his traveling team makes him a natural selection for one of the two remaining spots.

Wilkens, who will have input but doesn't have final say about who the last two players on the roster will be, didn't need this much convincing.

"I know Magic," Wilkens said. "He doesn't have to audition himself for me. It's the committee that picks it anyway.

"I think he should merit consideration. Certainly he will do that. (But) I don't get caught up in that. There's pros and cons both ways, right?"

Whether Johnson still has the skills, of course, is not sparking much debate. Wednesday was the latest evidence that, after a retirement of almost five years, the 36-year-old remains a major player.

Averaging 30.8 minutes coming in, Johnson was forced to log the extra time with Elden Campbell (20 points) fouling out with 10:13 to play and Nick Van Exel and Eddie Jones struggling (a combined nine points).

And he produced - after coming in convinced that "I'm too old to prove myself" - with five of his 10 rebounds in the final quarter.

"You could tell (Magic) was more aggressive out there tonight . . . the way he was rebounding the ball especially," Jones said. "He was himself again.

"He's trying to get a feel for all the players. He's doing it all for us."

Notes: As expected, the addition of Johnson has left Derek Strong and Corie Blount with almost zero playing time. George Lynch is also affected, and Pig Miller wasn't playing before Johnson unretired. "I'd like to see some opportunities where we get away from people and give people some playing time," Harris said. "I know our guys don't like not playing, and I don't want them to, but at least they're not out saying bad things about the team or the city or the coach. And in the long run that makes them more attractive to other teams (as well). Everyone is looking for the true pro."

Photo: (1--color) Elden Campbell has his shot blocked by Atlanta's Andrew Lang during the first half at the Forum Wednesday night.

(2) Vlade Divac shoots over Antonio Lang in the first half of the Lakers' win over Atlanta at the Forum. Divac's two late free throws won the game.

Hans Gutknecht / Daily News

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