PIPPEN, RODMAN DOMINATE THE SHOW.

Byline: Gary Washburn Daily News Staff Writer

Magic and Michael may have sold the 17,505 tickets and brought several other thousands to buy scalped ones.

But that matchup turned quickly into a showcase of the talents of two ignored facets of the Bulls-Lakers showdown, Scottie Pippen and Dennis Rodman.

Pippen's complete domination and Rodman's relentless rebounding turned Magic's and Michael's duel into a 99-84 laughter. After talking championship when Magic returned from a four-year retirement, the Lakers were simply relegated to being the Bulls' 41st victim.

"I think we knew from the outset that this wasn't the Michael-Magic show," Pippen said. "I'm all all-star. I consider Dennis an all-star. It was a lot more than Magic and Michael"

The 6-foot-6 Pippen proved why he is the best small forward in the NBA, hitting an array of jumpers, 3-pointers and gliding layups. He had 25 of the Bulls' first 63 points, and finished with 30 in 33 minutes, nine above his season average.

Rodman once again showed why NBA teams will put up with his temperament. He had a season-high 23 boards, blanketed Magic Johnson, who had just 15 points and three assists after having 19 and 10 Tuesday night. Then, as if the Bulls needed more scoring, he added 10 points.

He also made extra sure to be physical with Magic, proving that Johnson's move to power forward won't be easy.

Rodman began his antics with a brief second-quarter shoving match with Magic.

"It's not just a sudden move (to power forward)," Rodman said. "It took me four years to realize my role inside. I know I'm the smallest power forward in the league. I was banging and pushing in there because it's tough inside. It's going to take Magic a while to get used to that.

"He tried to score on me with that swooping Kareem Abdul-Jabbar hook and it just wasn't working."

Magic realized Rodman was toying with him. The little shove was sort of a welcome back.

"I told him to bring it on," Magic said. "I'm trying to instill in (the Lakers) that same mentality. The Bulls have that type of toughness."

Pippen has become accustomed to the role of second-threat after years playing with Jordan. He's led the team in scoring in just eight of their 44 games. But the L.A. atmosphere and the Magic-Michael talk seemed to inspire the nine-year veteran.

"I wanted to prove that the Bulls are more than just Michael and this wasn't a two-player game," Pippen said.

"When I went out for warm-ups, I felt a rhythm and it felt good. This game was big to me."

But just as the low-key Pippen played up the importance, Rodman seemed uninterested in the hoopla. Still upset he wasn't named to the All-Star team, Rodman considered the matchup with Magic a challenge to his skill but just another step in the Bulls' magical ride.

"Who do we have next, Denver?" Rodman asked. "We have to go there and do a job, then Golden State, then Phoenix. We're going to make sure this team doesn't make a big deal out of this. We're trying to win a championship."

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Dennis Rodman had a season-high 23 rebounds against the Lakers. Hans Gutknecht / Daily News