LAKERS LUCKY TO WIN : MCCLOUD FORCED TO DELAY HIS DEBUT LAKERS 99, VANCOUVER 91.

Byline: Matt McHale Daily News Deputy Sports Editor 

Del Harris is worried that while Shaquille O'Neal and Robert Horry are sidelined with injuries, the rest of his Lakers will be taking some time off, too.

Friday night, the Lakers coach only needed the lowly Vancouver Grizzlies to prove his point.

While the Lakers avoided their first three-game losing streak with a 99-91 victory in front of 17,031 at the Forum, they barely shook a team that has just 11 victories.

The Lakers were hoping to get a boost from recently acquired George McCloud. But McCloud spent the game next to Shaq on the bench pending the completion of Joe Kleine's physical with the New Jersey Nets.

``The frustrating part is not having everyone for at least six weeks,'' Harris said. ``Hopefully, everyone will keep a good attitude and not lose faith in ourselves.''

The Lakers were taken to the limit by Grizzlies dazzling rookie Shareef Abdur-Rahim, whose three-pointer with 2:21 left cut the Lakers lead to 93-91.

Greg Anthony could have tied the game a half minute later but missed a reverse layup and Elden Campbell scored on a turnaround jumper that gave the Lakers a four-point lead with 1:04 left.

It gave Campbell 21 points in the second half and 23 for the game. He also had 12 rebounds.

Eddie Jones scored 23 points and the Lakers held a 40-30 edge in rebounding.

But it was Campbell's first half that symbolized the Lakers effort. He scored just two points on 1-of-6 shooting.

It appeared the Lakers were shaking off a miserable first half when they went on a 12-0 run early in the third quarter. But the Grizzlies rallied for seven straight points and led 67-65 with less than three minutes left in the third quarter.

It was during the Lakers' run that Campbell came to life. In between 3-pointers by Nick Van Exel and Eddie Jones, Campbell scored inside, then blocked a shot by Bryant Reeves at the other end. He finished the third quarter with eight points.

McCloud's second day as a Laker was spent on the bench.

Acquired Thursday from New Jersey for Kleine, next year's No. 1 draft choice and a conditional second round pick, McCloud could not play because Kleine hasn't taken his physical with the Nets.

Without him, the Lakers went with a starting front line of Campbell at center, Jerome Kersey at power forward and Jones at small forward.

Kersey was a last-minute addition since the Lakers wanted a little more size against Abdur-Rahim.

But that strategy broke down almost immediately when Campbell picked up two fouls in the first four minutes.

Although the Lakers led by 10 after one quarter, they scored just 13 points in the second quarter and trailed 45-42 at the half.

Layups: The Lakers went with just 10 players Friday. They had 11 with McCloud, who should be available for Sunday's game against the New York Knicks. Harris is hoping to get a rebounder from the CBA to fill the final spot, someone who will see most of his action in practice. . . . On the added dimension of McCloud, who came into the league as a 6-foot-8 point guard, Harris said he likes his team's athleticism. ``I don't want us standing around. I like movement. This gives us four guys. But it won't matter who cuts to the basket because we'll still have three shooters out there.'' . . . Anthony Peeler, who played four seasons with the Lakers, received an ovation when he entered the game late in the first quarter. He played 17 minutes and scored 2 points. . . . Another ex-Laker, George Lynch, is sidelined with an abdominal strain.

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Photo

Photo: (color) Lakers' Kobe Bryant tries to take ball from Grizzlies' Lawrence Moten.

John McCoy / Daily News