LAKERS FOUL UP JAZZ; UTAH COLD AS WHISTLES OF REFEREES PERVADE.

Byline: Jon Wilner Daily News Staff Writer

They could not lose, not on this night. Not on the 25th anniversary of their first Los Angeles championship. Not with Magic Johnson and James Worthy serving as courtside bookends, reminders of glories past. And not with their season at stake.

Officially, a Game 3 defeat would not have sent them home for the summer. But no team in NBA history has recovered from a 3-0 deficit, and the Lakers did not want a chance to be the first.

``Everybody is working hard to make this thing happen for us,'' coach Del Harris said an hour before tipoff. ``I expect us to play outstanding. I think we'll be great.''

Great, no. Good enough, yes. Despite 11 points from foul-plagued (and disqualified) center Shaquille O'Neal, the Lakers took command late in the third quarter and raced to a 104-84 victory Thursday night, before 17,505 at the Forum, that cut Utah's series lead to 2-1.

Their task remains arduous, however. They are one of only 12 teams in NBA history to win a series after trailing 2-0 - doing so in 1969 against San Francisco - and the Jazz isn't likely to play as poorly in Game 4 as it did Thursday night.

Future Hall of Famers John Stockton and Karl Malone were a combined 2 of 26 from the field. The Jazz made 23 of 80 field goals and shot 28.8 percent from the field. Only Jeff Hornacek's 26 points and super shooting kept the Jazz close in a sloppy, disjointed game.

After the controversial no-call on Malone that ended Game 2, the officials were quick to impose their authority. They called 66 fouls, two flagrants on the Lakers, and disqualified O'Neal for complaining midway through the fourth quarter. By then, the Lakers were in command.

The Game 2 finish and their 2-0 deficit provided plenty of motivation. The Lakers held a three-hour practice Wednesday, just as they did after losing Game 3 in Portland. They divided it into a video session, court time and a meeting designed to clear their psyches. Harris was pleased with the mood.

``We were all into it, trying to help any way we can,'' Harris said. ``Each guy was trying to pump the others up. I got a real sense of camaraderie.''

The Lakers didn't revamp their strategy; there was no need. They scored 101 points and shot 49 percent in Game 2 with effective ball movement against Utah's double teams. Defensively, they contained Stockton and Malone as well as they are going to be contained.

``Our game plan has worked well,'' forward Robert Horry said. ``We just have to keep playing hard, rebound and get everybody involved.''

Primarily guard Eddie Jones and forward Elden Campbell. Jones was scoreless in Game 2. Campbell managed 16 points in the Delta Center games combined, and he seemed most comfortable when subbing for O'Neal at center.

``We haven't gone to Elden extensively, but he's liable to bust out,'' Harris said. ``We do want him involved so Malone has to play defense.''

Although Jones made two field goals Thursday night, Campbell was more active, attempting 12 shots and scoring 14 points. Five Lakers reached double figures in one of their most well-balanced games of the postseason.

``I didn't see a lot of carryover (from Game 2) that I could tell,'' Harris said before tipoff. ``They seemed intent on doing a good job. They all said how we have to do the best we can and not over-referee - just get out there and play and adjust to the way the game's being called as best we can. We're all aware we have an emotional, young team.''

The officials, especially, were aware. To keep tempers low and the play clean, they were extremely quick with the whistle. There were 21 fouls and 34 free throws in the first quarter. Jerome Kersey and Kobe Bryant were assessed flagrant fouls in the first half.

The whistles helped Utah stay within range. The Jazz made 2 of 22 shots in the first quartet and 4 of 44 in the first half. Malone finished 2 of 17, Stockton 0 of 6. But the Jazz made 22 free throws in the first half and trailed 49-36 at intermission.

O'Neal was in foul trouble throughout, committing two in the first quarter and his third with 7:39 left in the second. But Sean Rooks (six points, five rebounds) and Kersey (four points, three rebounds) provided support off the bench.

O'Neal got his fourth early in the third quarter when he charged into Greg Ostertag. But that was hardly the Lakers' biggest problem. They could not stop Hornacek, the slow, smart jump shooter who has made an NBA career of creating shots against bigger, quicker players. With Jones and Byron Scott in his face, Hornacek drained eight consecutive jumpers and single-handedly sliced the Laker lead from 16 to six.

Van Exel led the game-breaking rally with three-consecutive baskets late in the third quarter.

CAPTION(S):

2 Photos, 2 Boxes

Photo: (1--Color) Neither Magic Johnson, left, nor John Stockton, right, can believe the number of fouls called by refs Bill Oakes (21) and Dick Bavetta.

(2) The Lakers' Shaquille O'Neal, who was ejected in the fourth quarter, goes up for a layup and is fouled by Utah's Greg Ostertag.

Terri Thuente / Daily News

Box: (1--Color) LAKERS vs. UTAH

(2) LAKERS BOX