NBA Roundup : Triple-Double by Isiah Thomas Helps Pistons Beat Bullets

Most of the players who perform triple doubles (double figures in points, assists and rebounds) in the NBA are big men. Magic Johnson and Larry Bird, both 6-9, perform the feat most often, while 6-5 Micheal Ray Richardson does it occasionally, too.

But when Isiah Thomas does it, he raises a few eyebrows.

The 6-1 guard didn’t shoot especially well Saturday night at Landover, Md., but he had 27 points, 11 rebounds and 13 assists to lead the surging Detroit Pistons to a 121-113 victory over the Washington Bullets.

Thomas was only 8 for 21 from the field, but one of them was a 26-foot, 3-point bomb that broke the spirit of the Bullets. It came with 68 seconds left, with time running out on the shot clock and with the Pistons ahead by only three, 113-110.

The fourth-year Piston, who became an instant pro star after just two years of college at Indiana, also had four steals to lead the Pistons to their fourth win in five games.

“We are beginning to play the way I thought we could,” Coach Chuck Daly said. “The last few games we seem to be doing everything right.”

Thomas downplayed his performance. “I thought the key lately has been a sharp defense that has enabled us to jump in front early,” he said.

Jeff Ruland led the Bullets with 27 points and 13 rebounds, but fouled out in the fourth quarter and missed a triple double because he only had six assists.

Philadelphia 110, Milwaukee 106--Julius Erving scored 11 of his 24 points in the fourth quarter at Milwaukee and, with last-minute help from Maurice Cheeks and Andrew Toney, led the 76ers to their seventh win in a row.

Sidney Moncrief’s eight-point spree late in the period gave the Bucks an 85-81 lead after three quarters. Erving led the rally that made it 104-104. A rebound dunk by Paul Pressy with 1:04 left gave Milwaukee the lead.

Andrew Toney sank a 20-footer to tie it and Cheeks followed with a layup (on a goaltending call against Pressy) after the Bucks missed a chance to regain the lead.

The Bucks, who had their nine-game winning streak stopped Friday night at Chicago, have lost only two of 18 home games this season, both to the 76ers.

Atlanta 124, New Jersey 114--Dominique Wilkins triggered a fast start for the Hawks at Atlanta, and they breezed after scoring 49 points in the first 12 minutes.

Wilkins had 10 points early and finished with 29, although playing only 33 minutes.

The Hawks stretched a 22-point, first-quarter lead to as high as 33 points in the second quarter and had scored 80 points by halftime.

“This performance tonight was big for us, especially after what the Pistons did to us last night,” Coach Mike Fratello said. In that game, the Pistons built a 38-point lead and coasted to a 134-111 victory.

Dallas 135, Kansas City 107--Mark Aguirre continued his hot streak, scoring 25 points at Dallas to lead the Mavericks to an easy victory.

Aguirre’s surge started after he was chastised by Coach Dick Motta shortly before Christmas for not hustling.

In the last four games, Aguirre has averaged 27 points, 9 rebounds, 6 assists and 52% shooting from the field.

Cleveland 111, Phoenix 106--Phil Hubbard scored five of his 22 points in an 11-0 spurt in the fourth quarter at Richfield, Ohio to bring the Cavaliers from behind.

The Suns, now six games behind the Lakers in the Pacific Division, led, 95-91, with 5:43 left. But, with 2:37 to play, they trailed, 102-95.

New York 119, Chicago 113--Bernard King, who limped off the floor Friday night, recovered miraculously for this game at New York. King scored 34 points, including a crucial jumper with 17 seconds left, to offset another big night for Michael Jordan.

Jordan, making 16 of 25 shots from the field, had 42 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals and a blocked shot.

Houston 103, Golden State 94--Akeem Olajuwon scored six of his 21 points in the fourth quarter at Oakland to help the Rockets hold off a desperate rally and increase their lead in the Midwest Division to 1 1/2 games.

Sleepy Floyd sank four 3-point baskets and had 31 points.

Seattle 104, Indiana 97--Tom Chambers scored 6 points in a 12-0 SuperSonic spurt in the fourth quarter that put an end to the Pacers’ three-game winning streak on the road.