Los Angeles mayoral contenders Eric Garcetti and Wendy Greuel won key endorsements on Thursday. 

Former mayoral candidate and 9th District councilwoman Jan Perry endorsed Garcetti at a press conference held at the 28th Street YMCA. Later in the afternoon, basketball legend Earvin "Magic" Johnson extended his support to Greuel and spoke with the city controller at the steps of a South LA church.

Both Garcetti and Greuel desperately need black votes in order to build a winning coalition for the runoff. Only 14 percent of black votes went to Garcetti during the March primary; Greuel won 25 percent. 

By comparison, Perry -- who came in fourth place during the March primary --  polled first in many South L.A. precincts and won 56 percent of the black vote.

Perry often clashed with Greuel in the run up to the primary. Political mailers issued by both camps embodied the bad blood between the two candidates. A mailer from Greuel's super PAC questioned whether Perry could balance the budget with two personal bankruptcies under her belt. Meanwhile, one Perry mailer characterized Greuel as a third term for Antonio Villaraigosa.

When asked whether Greuel had asked for an endorsement, Perry said Greuel had left her a voicemail. Perry did not respond to her call. 

Perry marks Garcetti's second endorsement from a candidate who ran in the primary. Emaneul Pleitez endorsed Garcetti earlier this month. Former talk-show host Kevin James, the only Republican to run in the primary, has yet to endorse either Garcetti or Greuel.

Greuel outlined a five-point plan to revitalize South L.A. during her press conference with Johnson near Crenshaw Boulevard. Among the steps she outlined: job training, a block-by-block assessment of local businesses, infrastrucutural improvements, investment to compensate for lost dollars due to the dissolution of the Community Redevelopment Agency and a push to court retail opportunities for the area. 

"And that's something, Magic, that you have done," said Greuel after explaining her last point. Johnson runs "Magic Johnson Enterprises," a company that invests heavily in South L.A. businesses. 

Along with Magic Johnson, Greuel has won the backing of LA County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas, who was also at the conference. Greuel, Johnson, Ridley-Thomas and others made numerous references to Greuel's past career as deputy to Los Angeles' first black mayor Tom Bradley.

"He was a mentor, a leader, and a towering figure in my life," said Greuel.

She then turned to Johnson. 

"Well, not quite as towering as you are." 

Reach reporter Aaron Liu here.