Magic Johnson will help Lakers

Suns coach Earl Watson goes back a long way with Magic Johnson. When he played in college at UCLA, Watson worked out with Johnson and others over the summer. He’s known him 20 years.

“Magic’s always been a mentor for young basketball players in L.A.,” said Watson, preparing for Thursday night’s game against the Lakers at Talking Stick Resort Arena. “He ran pick-up games like a practice. I learned a lot from Magic. I still use a lot of my teachings he gave me as a teenager. Any L.A. basketball player will tell you he’s been big for their career.”

For that reason, Watson said Johnson should be successful as Lakers’ President of Basketball Operations, a position he assumed last month. His presence should be great for someone like D’Angelo Russell, Watson said. A second-year guard, Russell is one of organization’s building blocks. And now he has a Hall of Fame point guard as a resource.

“His biggest impact will be when he gets on the court with the young players because he has a great way of talking the game, teaching the game. And he does it with a sternness, but a love,” Watson said of Johnson. “It’s like a fire and an inspirational talk at the same time. You know he’s not playing. It’s not joke time, it’s not fun time. He holds you accountable for what he teaches you immediately.”

The Lakers (19-45) entered Thursday on an eight-game losing streak, stuck at the bottom of the Western Conference.

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Dudley fined

The NBA fined Suns forward Jared Dudley $35,000 for his role in Tuesday’s altercation with the Washington Wizards.

Early in the second quarter of Phoenix’s loss, Dudley rushed to confront Wizards center Jason Smith, who had set a hard screen on Tyler Ulis that knocked the rookie point guard to the floor. Dudley rushed over and head-butted Smith and later exchanged words with Washington guard Brandon Jennings.

Jennings appeared to be making a pointed gun gesture during the incident. The league also fined him $35,000. Both were ejected, Dudley for the first time in his career.

“I was standing up for Tyler,” Dudley told azcentral sports. “I didn’t mean to actually head-butt the dude. I wanted to go up and get in his face, and in doing so, my head hit his head. I wouldn’t even call it a head-butt, but we definitely touched. It was more so the reaction of Brandon Jennings, with the gun symbol and what he was saying. That’s what got me really mad. Someone who’s new to that team, who wasn’t even involved and talking the way he was … The only thing I regret was maybe my language.”

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Big Al production

Alan Williams entered Thursday with four consecutive double-doubles off the bench, which tied for the longest streak by a reserve in franchise history. In 1988, Larry Nance also posted four double-doubles as a reserve.

“It’s an amazing story,” Watson said.

Since the Suns started playing their young players after the All-Star break, the 6-8 Williams has averaged 14.3 points and 10.3 rebounds in seven games.

Follow Doug Haller at 602-444-49494 or at [email protected]. Follow him at Twitter.com/DougHaller.

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