LAKERS SNOOZE TO VICTORY : JONES COMES THROUGH BUT IS NOT SATISFIED LAKERS 115 NEW JERSEY 105.

Byline: Marc Stein Daily News Staff Writer

Even in victory, the Lakers couldn't avoid embarrassment.

Even Eddie Jones.

Even on the best statistical evening of his life, Jones wasn't feeling especially proud late Sunday, after his career-best 34 points and 13 rebounds secured a 115-105 triumph over the New Jersey Nets before 17,103 at the Forum.

Jones knew - even as he was establishing new personal standards in three categories (including his career-high seven turnovers) - that struggling to beat the lowly Nets was not the kind of start the Lakers (41-20) were looking for as they entered a stretch of very winnable games.

``We've talked about it,'' said Jones, who had 22 of the points in a 27-2 run over two quarters to break open an unexpectedly close contest. ``We need to come out and make our home our home.

``This is our kitchen. We can't let anyone come in and take our food.''

For much of three periods, New Jersey (18-43) was gorging itself on the Lakers' disinterest. Forgetting that they were the first of four sub-.500 foes to visit the Forum in the next week, the Nets led 74-63 with 3:40 left in the third.

Jones - who would later call that deficit ``just embarrassing'' - scored two-thirds of his total from that point as L.A. avoided the first three-game home losing streak in Del Harris' three-year tenure as coach.

``At halftime, again, I said, `People actually pay to watch us play,' '' Harris shared. ``We can't crawl around at half-speed. We can't feel sorry for ourselves that a couple of guys are out.''

Such thinking would be doubly costly now, with the schedule finally smiling on the Lakers. They get Golden State, the Clippers and Toronto here before returning to the road, and only one of their seven home games in April is against a winning team.

In fact, only seven of the final 21 opponents in the regular season have records over .500 at present, which should be welcome relief to Jones - the man, along with Elden Campbell, who defenses are focusing on with Shaquille O'Neal and Robert Horry nursing knee injuries.

Jones came in averaging 18.6 points and 5.1 rebounds in his previous seven games, but shot just 40.2 percent from the floor in the same stretch, a figure undoubtedly related to O'Neal's absence.

``With Shaq, you get so many open looks it's ridiculous,'' Jones said. ``The next guy closest to you is probably at the snack bar.''

Jones had to know it was his night at the end of the first quarter, when - under pressure from defenders who obviously weren't hungry - he banked in a 32-footer at the buzzer with the Nets up 37-26.

But in the end, it wasn't an occasion for either side to cherish. Not even veteran center Joe Kleine, who was making his first appearance at the Forum since the Feb. 20 trade that sent him to New Jersey and ended his five-week career with the Lakers.

Being an Angeleno for so short a time made it tough, Kleine explained, to get sentimental about his return.

``Went by and saw the old place today,'' Kleine said of his pre-game activity.

``The Sheraton.

``Went and saw the room-service guy and the maids and all my good friends.''

The true thrill for Kleine comes today, when a break in the Nets' recent grind - five games in seven days - will allow him to make a quick trip home to Phoenix to see his three children.

When he came to the Lakers from the Suns on Jan. 10 in the deal featuring Robert Horry and Cedric Ceballos, Kleine was just a short flight away from his wife and kids. The adjustment to New Jersey has been considerably more difficult - even for a 12-year veteran.

``Right now it's tough,'' Kleine said. ``But if this is the worst thing that happens to me, I can't complain.''

Nor can the Lakers, having rallied to avoid the torture of a master needler like Kleine rubbing defeat in their faces.

``Anywhere you can get 'em,'' said Jerome Kersey, who chipped in 10 points and 10 rebounds off the bench. ``We want to start playing better so when Shaq and Robert do come back, we can go to another level.''

Layups: Travis Knight suffered a small retinal hemorrhage after taking an Eric Montross elbow to the face in the third quarter and did not return. He was later taken to Centinela Hospital and released but is listed as questionable for Wednesday's game against golden State. . . . George McCloud, the player the Lakers received for Kleine and two draft picks, made his second L.A. start but was pulled after seven minutes and didn't return. McCloud missed both shots he attempted and is down to 27.2 percent from the field (9 of 33) since the trade.

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Photo, Box

Photo: The Lakers' Byron Scott and the Nets' Jim Jackson tangle under the basket during first-half action at the Forum.

Gus Ruelas / Daily News

Box: LAKERS BOX