NBA Roundup : Bird Nearly Has Quadruple-Double

Larry Bird had 30 points, 12 rebounds, 10 assists and 9 steals for the Celtics to come within one steal of recording a quadruple-double as Boston beat the Utah Jazz, 110-94, at Salt Lake City.

But, when informed of his opportunity, Bird chose not to go back into the game after being taken out in the third quarter. He totaled 33 minutes.

The only quadruple-double officially recorded was by Nate Thurmond of the Chicago Bulls, who had 22 points, 14 rebounds, 13 assists and 12 blocked shots in a 120-115 overtime victory over Atlanta on Oct. 18, 1974.

Statistics on blocked shots and steals have been kept only since 1973, so there may have been others that went unrecorded.

Kevin McHale added 29 points for the Celtics (44-11), who outscored the Jazz, 34-10, in the first period and never allowed Utah closer than 18 points the rest of the way.

The Jazz (25-29) were led by Fred Roberts, who came off the bench to score 22 points.

Cleveland 120, Philadelphia 113--Rookie Mel Turpin has had his good and bad days for the Cleveland Cavaliers. Monday was one of his best.

“Turpin looked like an All-Pro today against us,” Philadelphia Coach Billy Cunningham said after the Cavaliers beat the 76ers, 120-113, before a matinee crowd of 12,510 at Richfield, Ohio. “He has really improved. He is more aggressive, and he really is extending himself out there.”

Cleveland’s World B. Free scored 35 points to help offset a season-high 43 points by Philadelphia’s Andrew Toney, and Turpin, who is averaging 12 points a game, scored 20 points and grabbed 17 rebounds. Turpin’s consecutive dunks in the fourth quarter gave Cleveland its biggest lead at 13 points.

Cleveland (18-36) had beaten the 76ers on the road for the first time in nine years last Friday. The Cavaliers had not won two straight from the 76ers since 1976.

The Cavaliers rebounded from an early 13-point deficit behind strong defensive performances by Turpin and Phil Hubbard.

Said Free: “I told Turp today, ‘Look, you’ve got to set some picks and get us open, and then you’ll get open, too.’ I kept on his back out there. It looked like it got him mad, but he took it out on the rim.

“Then I’d give him a high-five and it seemed to pump him up. It does damage to my hand, too.”

Philadelphia (42-12) led, 55-53, at halftime after Toney had collected 23 of his points.

The lead see-sawed in the third quarter until Free hit a pair of free throws to put Cleveland ahead for good at 82-80 with 1:32 to go in the period.

Cleveland led, 87-84, entering the fourth quarter and expanded that to 106-93 on Turpin’s consecutive dunks with just over six minutes to go.

Toney made a late three-pointer and the 76ers climbed back within three at 112-109 with 1:29 to go, but they could get no closer.

Julius Erving and Charles Barkley had 18 points each and Moses Malone scored 15 for Philadelphia.

Detroit 122, Phoenix 103--Center Bill Laimbeer scored 13 of his game-high 21 points in the first half and five other Detroit players were in double figures as the Pistons overwhelmed the Phoenix Suns at Pontiac, Mich.