NBA Roundup : 76ers Beat Pistons for 9th in Row

Julius Erving scored 35 points, and Moses Malone added 22 points and 15 rebounds as the Philadelphia 76ers defeated the Detroit Pistons, 126-122, Wednesday night at Philadelphia to extend their winning streak to nine games.

The lead changed hands 10 times and the score was tied five times in the final period before a jumper by Maurice Cheeks gave Philadelphia (29-6) a 118-116 edge with 2:40 remaining, a lead the 76ers never relinquished. A pair of free throws by Malone 20 seconds later made it 120-116.

The Pistons, who had a three-game winning streak snapped, came within one point, 123-122, with 53 seconds remaining. But Andrew Toney made a field goal, and Erving added a free throw for the final margin.

Isiah Thomas led Detroit (19-16) with 23 points and 17 assists.

Milwaukee 106, Indiana 105--Craig Hodges made a 15-foot shot with four seconds remaining as the Bucks edged the Pacers at Indianapolis.

The lead changed hands eight times in the final 3:13, with Hodges coming up with a loose ball off a deflected pass by Indiana’s Vern Fleming for the game-winning basket.

Terry Cummings led the Bucks (24-14) with 30 points. Steve Stipanovich had a career-high 30 points for the Pacers (10-25).

Boston 111, Chicago 108--Robert Parish hit two free throws with 15 seconds left and Rod Higgins missed a three-point shot as time ran out, giving the Celtics the win at Boston.

Larry Bird finished with 28 points and Kevin McHale added 24 for the Celtics, who have the NBA’s best record at 30-6.

Michael Jordan led the Bulls (17-18) with a game-high 36 points.

Phoenix 94, Seattle 88--At Phoenix, Larry Nance scored 19 of his 23 points in the first half as the Suns snapped a three-game losing streak.

The Suns (19-18) led Seattle by as many as 18 points in the final period.

James Edwards finished with 14 points for the Suns. The SuperSonics (15-22) got 14 points from Jack Sikma and 12 each from Al Wood, Ricky Sobers and Jon Sundvold.

Denver 100, New York 95--Alex English scored 12 of his 29 points in the fourth quarter, and Wayne Cooper added a season-high 26 in the game to lead the Nuggets past the Knicks at Denver.

Denver (21-15) held NBA scoring leader Bernard King to just 15 points in handing the Knicks (13-25) their 10th straight road loss.

Pat Cummings led New York with 20 points before being ejected from the game with two minutes left.

King, averaging 32.8 points per game, made 4 of 14 field-goal attempts. He scored only two points in the second half.