NBA Roundup : Celtics Look Ahead and Fall Back

K.C. Jones knew it was going to happen, but the Boston Celtics coach was helpless.

The Celtics, between battles with the Lakers and Philadelphia 76ers, just couldn’t get up for a game with the Indiana Pacers Friday night at Indianapolis.

After forging in front, 86-84, with five minutes to play, the Celtics never scored again, and the Pacers, taking advantage of this schedule break, surged to a 91-86 victory.

It was only the seventh defeat in 40 games for the Celtics, who won a close one from the Lakers Wednesday night. They dropped a half-game behind Philadelphia in the tight Atlantic Division race and will play the 76ers Sunday afternoon at Boston.

Although he scored 25 points and had 12 rebounds in 41 minutes, even Larry Bird was not at his best for the Celtics. He scored 15 points in the second quarter to help wipe out a 14-point deficit, but he was cited for a traveling violation that kept the Celtics from closing within a point with 25 seconds left.

Herb Williams, who had 27 points, and Jerry Sichting scored the last seven points of the game. Sichting tied the score at 86-all with his first basket on his fifth shot of the game. Williams made two free throws, then Sichting made three of four free-throw attempts in the last 30 seconds.

“I just knew this would be a tough game,” Jones said. “The Pacers are improving, they had a huge crowd (16,920) and it was an important win for their franchise. Our guys gave it all they had, but you know they were thinking about Sunday.”

In two games earlier this season, the Celtics won handily, with Bird scoring 29 in one and 33 in another.

The Celtics, in their last-second win over the Lakers, had only 12 turnovers. Against the Pacers, they had 25. In addition, the Celtics were outrebounded, 42-40.

Milwaukee 102, New Jersey 93--Paul Pressey spent his first two pro seasons as a not very productive big guard for the Milwaukee Bucks. Then the Bucks sent Marques Johnson to the Clippers in the deal for Terry Cummings and they needed a small forward.

When Coach Don Nelson decided to give the 6-5 Pressey a shot at the position, he made one of the smartest moves of the season. Pressey has been brilliant and a key reason for the Bucks’ position atop the Central Division.

Pressey scored 29 points in this game at Milwaukee to lead the Bucks to their fifth win in a row. Pressey and Sidney Moncrief, who scored 14 in the last quarter, led the Bucks’ rally after they trailed, 76-70, going into the last quarter.

Houston 112, Phoenix 101--Ralph Sampson scored 12 of his 29 points in the pivotal third quarter at Phoenix and Akeem Olajuwon made a three-point play with four minutes left in the quarter to give the Rockets the lead for good.

The victory ended the Rockets’ four-game losing streak and dropped the Suns six games behind the Lakers in the Pacific Division.

Atlanta 104, Seattle 90--Dominique Wilkins put on a show at Atlanta. The talented forward scored 26 points, had 6 assists and 13 rebounds as the Hawks ended the SuperSonics’ three-game winning streak.

Wilkins sank a jumper with 4:10 left in the first half to give the Hawks a 42-41 lead and they were never headed. Early in the fourth quarter the Hawks held a 19-point lead.

The Sonics shot only 44.6% from the field, largely because the Hawks blocked 13 of their shots. Tree Rollins blocked five.

Denver 108, Washington 106--Mike Evans sank a 10-foot jumper at the final buzzer at Denver--his only basket of the second half--to give the Nuggets the victory.

The Nuggets worked for the final shot after two free throws by the Bullets’ Gus Williams tied the score, 106-106, with 24 seconds left. The Bullets made it close, although two stalwarts, Jeff Ruland and Cliff Robinson, were out with injuries.

Utah 127, Portland 122--Adrian Dantley scored 42 points and massive Mark Eaton destroyed the Trail Blazers’ offense at Salt Lake City to enable the Jazz to end a five-game losing streak.

The 7-4 Eaton blocked 14 shots, just three below the record, had 20 rebounds and scored 12 points in an impressive performance.