NBA Roundup : It Wasn’t How They Planned It, but Pistons Beat Nets at the Buzzer

Bill Laimbeer tipped in the miss of an unusual three-point field goal attempt at the buzzer Saturday night to give the streaking Detroit Pistons a 109-107 victory over the New Jersey Nets at East Rutherford, N.J.

In winning their fourth in a row and seventh in their last eight, the Pistons ended a string of four straight losses to the Nets.

Buck Williams of the Nets hit a short hook shot with 20 seconds remaining to tie the game at 107-107, and the Pistons called a timeout. They set up a play for Isiah Thomas, a doubtful participant until just before the tipoff. But a tough New Jersey defense fouled up the planned play. With the clock grinding down, Thomas had to toss up a desperate three-point shot. The ball hit the rim, bounced out to the leaping Laimbeer. The big center shot before he came down, banking the ball into the basket for the game-winner.

“It wasn’t exactly the way we diagrammed it,” Coach Chuck Daly said, “but it turned out just right with Laimbeer in position to tip it in. That makes for good coaching.”

Thomas, the Pistons’ playmaker and leading scorer, hurt his ankle in Thursday’s win over New York. He responded well to treatment and decided to give it a try.

He played 38 minutes, had 12 assists and, until his desperate heave in the closing seconds, was 10 for 15 from the field. Without their star guard, the Pistons would not have been close enough for Laimbeer’s rebound basket.

“In this league you have to have all your ducks in a row,” Daly said, “and all your guns ready to fire in order to win. We were fortunate that Isiah and Danny (Roundfield) were able to play.”

The victory in a game in which the Nets tied the score three times in the last 76 seconds gave the Pistons a 12-9 road record. Philadelphia and Boston and the Lakers are the only other NBA teams with winning records away from home.

Darwin Cook sank a jumper with 1:16 left to tie it at 103. Tripucka sank an off-balance jumper and Williams made two free throws to tie it again. Tripucka scored again and Williams made the hook that tied it.

New York 88, Atlanta 86--It took a while, but the Knicks adjusted to the loss of centers Bill Cartwright and Marvin Webster and forward Truck Robinson, but not to the loss of Bernard King, the league’s leading scorer.

Before this game at New York, the Knicks were 1-11 in the games King has missed with injuries and had lost their last six, all without the sharpshooter.

To end the losing streak, it took a phenomenal finish. With just six minutes to play, the Hawks led, 82-70. The Knicks, outscoring the Hawks, 18-4, in the stretch, won when Darrell Walker sank a 20-foot jumper from the corner with just four seconds remaining. Walker scored eight of the points in the rally.

Indiana 110, Chicago 107--The letdown by the Pacers after their surprising win over the champion Boston Celtics Friday night, was not forthcoming.

In this game at Indianapolis, Herb Williams, a star in the win over Boston, made 10 of his 24 points in the fourth quarter to keep the Pacers on the move. It was five free throws in the closing minute by Jim Thomas that clinched the victory.

It took a fine game by the Pacers to overcome another sensational performance by the Bulls’ talented rookie, Michael Jordan. Jordan scored 38 points, had 12 rebounds and 7 assists.

Quintin Dailey, who missed the team’s flight to Indianapolis, played only 15 minutes. But his driving layup brought the Bulls to within a point with 30 seconds left. But he missed a jumper with 13 seconds left. Thomas grabbed the rebound was fouled and made one of two free throws to complete the scoring.

Houston 120, Utah 95--Speaking of tremendous performances, Akeem Olajuwon had one at Houston. The rookie center scored 34 points and had 20 rebounds to help the Rockets score a lopsided victory.

Ralph Sampson had 13 of his 23 points in the first quarter to give the Rockets the lead, and Olajuwon kept them in command.

Seattle 106, Cleveland 105--Jack Sikma sank a 15-foot jump shot with seven seconds left at Richfield, Ohio to deal the Cavaliers a heartbreaking defeat.

The Cavaliers led, 105-102, and had the ball with less than a minute to play. But World B. Free made a wild pass and Tom Chambers scored with 47 seconds left to cut the lead to one. Gerald Henderson then stole the ball and Sikma got his chance.

Sikma had 31 points, sinking all 13 of his free throw attempts, but was only 8 for 20 from the field when he threw up his gamewinner.

San Antonio 106, Phoenix 100--Artis Gilmore had 26 points and 16 rebounds at San Antonio and the Spurs held off a late spurt by the Suns. The Spurs led by 16 late in the third period, but Phoenix drew within two points with four minutes left.

Kansas City 103, Washington 98--Eddie Johnson scored 27 points at Kansas City as the Kings took advantage of the travel-weary, injury-riddled Bullets to end their six-game losing streak.

It was the Bullets fourth game on the road this week and they were without two of their best players, Jeff Ruland and Cliff Robinson.

Denver 123, Portland 120--Calvin Natt came back to Portland to haunt his former teammates. Natt scored 10 of his 31 points in the fourth quarter and the Nuggets were able to pull out the victory.

Natt put in a rebound to break a 112-112 tie with 3:25 left, Dan Issel dunked a shot and Natt made a layup to put Denver in command.