NBA Roundup : Blazers Starting to Climb

Jack Ramsay and his Portland Trail Blazers have taken a lot of heat this season. First, there was the trade with Denver. Next, there was the selection of Sam Bowie in the draft.

The Blazers sent three solid players--Calvin Natt, Wayne Cooper and Lafeyette Lever--to the Nuggets for Kiki Vandeweghe and two draft choices, one of them a No. 1 in 1985.

While Vandeweghe has been hampered by a back injury, the three new Nuggets have been gems and Denver has been the surprise of the season. Ramsay has been berated for a “stupid” trade.

When Michael Jordan was off to a sensational start for the Chicago Bulls, Ramsay was lambasted because he chose the 7-1 Bowie over the 6-6 superstar Jordan.

Partly because of injuries and partly because Bowie has had a little trouble adjusting to the NBA, the Trail Blazers have been inconsistent. It may be that heading into the stretch they are finally ready to live up to Ramsay’s expectations.

Vandeweghe, in his fourth start since returning from his most recent injury, scored 11 of his points in a 19-0 spurt Friday night at East Rutherford, N.J. that enabled the Blazers to rout the Nets, 128-110.

Portland held only a 43-41 lead in the second quarter, but the Nets, one of the hot teams in the East, went 4:22 without a point and the Blazers took a commanding 62-41 lead.

It was the third win in the last four games for the Blazers, who were without both starting guards for three of them. Although Darnell Valentine is still out with an ankle injury, Jim Paxson rejoined the team and contributed 23 points.

Vandeweghe, the No. 3 scorer in the league last season with a 29.4 average, made 14 of 21 shots from the field, had 6 rebounds and 5 assists. Since returning, he is shooting 56% and averaging 25.3 points.

“The injuries helped us develop some depth,” Ramsay said. “Bowie is continuing to improve and Kiki is a tremendous factor when he’s healthy. He’ll always be able to shoot.”

The Nets, trying to post the fourth-bestrecord in the East and gain the homecourt advantage in the first round of the playoffs, had won five out of six. But after the cold spell they were never in the game.

Boston 133, Dallas 122--All the Celtics needed was a day off. After losing two of their previous three home games, the Celtics came charging out, scored 40 points in the first period and coasted to victory.

The Celtics’ starting forwards, Larry Bird and Kevin McHale, scored 60 points, 32 by Bird, who also had 15 rebounds.

With the fast start, the Celtics were able to get all 11 players into the game for one of the few times this season. Scott Wedman came off the bench to score 18 points and Ray Williams had 9.

Philadelphia 128, Seattle 114--Coach Billy Cunningham’s revamped lineup won its second in a row at Philadelphia. After the 76ers lost two games in a row in Texas last week, Cunningham benched Charles Barkley and Andrew Toney, replacing them with Bobby Jones and Clint Richardson.

Barkley had 15 points and Toney 16 off the bench, while Moses Malone led the 76ers with 25 points and 12 rebounds.

Houston 125, Indiana 105--Lionel Hollins scored 12 of his season-high 23 points in the third quarter at Houston to help the Rockets break the game open and move to within four games of first place in the Midwest Division.

With Ralph Sampson and Hollins each scoring 10 points, the Rockets shot 66% in the first quarter to take a 37-22 lead. The Pacers cut it to three points in the second period, but never got closer.

Milwaukee 127, Kansas City 114--Sidney Moncrief scored 25 points and Terry Cummings 23 at Milwaukee and the Bucks increased their lead in the Central Division to nine games with only 20 games remaining.

The Bucks sank 31 of 47 shots in the first half to build a 70-58 lead. The Kings battled back and trailed by only five points with 2:20 left. A three-point play by Moncrief ended the threat.