NBA Roundup : Gminski’s Play a Net Gain for Nets

Injuries have wrecked some teams this season, including the New York Knicks, but the New Jersey Nets have stayed competitive, and in some ways their injuries have been a blessing in disguise.

There were times when Coach Stan Albeck suited up the NBA minimum of eight players, and not all of them were in condition to perform. The loss of center Darryl Dawkins, out almost half the season, could have been critical.

Instead, Mike Gminski, forced to play 32 minutes or more per game, has emerged as a factor in the Nets’ drive to the playoffs.

Dawkins is back and apparently recovered from the back injury that kept him out of 43 games. But the 6-11 Gminski is still No. 1 in the middle.

Micheal Ray Richardson scored 10 of his 25 points in the last 8 1/2 minutes Wednesday night at East Rutherford, N.J., to lead the Nets to a 106-93 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks for their fourth win in a row. Gminski played another solid game and contributed 15 points.

The Bucks, without star guard Sidney Moncrief, who has a shoulder injury, lost their second in a row, but made it a battle until Richardson broke loose in the fourth quarter.

In their last three games, the now-healthy Nets (24-26) have beaten Philadelphia, Detroit and the Bucks.

Gminski has been prominent all season. Last season, his fourth in the NBA, Gminski averaged only 7.6 points and 5 rebounds. This season, he is averaging 14 points and 9 rebounds.

“People don’t realize how far Mike has come,” Albeck said. “A few years ago, he had a staph infection and almost died. We learned this season that he was using the wrong medicine for his asthma. It was draining him.

“Last season, he would run up and down the floor three times and almost collapse. Now, he’s in much better shape and is able to do so many things he couldn’t do before.”

With 32 games left, he is within 50 minutes of his total for last season. He already has a career high in assists and will soon set personal standards for points and rebounds.

“I think there were many people who thought I couldn’t be a quality starter,” Gminski said. “I feel I have proved them wrong. It won’t bother me whether I start or come off the bench.”

Dawkins, playing in his fourth consecutive game, played 17 minutes and had 6 points and 5 rebounds.

Boston 113, Cleveland 108--Ho, hum, Larry Bird did it again. With the Celtics trailing the Cavaliers, 97-90, and only 7:38 left at Boston, Bird went to work. He scored 9 of his 26 points in a 17-4 surge that gave the Celtics command.

It was the fourth win in a row for the Celtics, who have beaten the Cavaliers the last 18 times the teams have played in Boston Garden.

The Celtics, who have been almost injury-free this season, were without starting forward Cedric Maxwell, sidelined with a knee injury.

Philadelphia 116, Washington 111--Moses Malone had 27 points and 20 rebounds at Philadelphia, but it was a spurt by guard Sedale Threatt in the fourth quarter that brought the 76ers the victory.

Although the Bullets were without injured stars Jeff Ruland and Cliff Robinson, they led the 76ers, 84-77, early in the last quarter. Threatt scored 10 of his 16 points in the next 10 minutes, and the 76ers surged from behind to win for the fifth time in the last six games.

Denver 120, Seattle 101--Alex English had one string of nine consecutive field goals and wound up this game at Denver by sinking 15 of 20 shots and scoring 33 points in 39 minutes.

English took charge in the third quarter, and his string of baskets helped Denver take a 22-point lead. In the fourth quarter, the SuperSonics cut the lead to four, but English returned to put the game out of reach.

Dallas 129, Golden State 103--Rolando Blackman scored 27 points and Mark Aguirre 25 at Dallas, and the Mavericks moved within a game of second place in the Midwest Division.

The Warriors’ record fell to 11-37, and their leading scorer, Purvis Short, scored only 12 points.

In winning their third in a row, the Mavericks shot 61%.