NBA Roundup : Without Moses, 76ers Fall, 116-89

When they were healthy, the Philadelphia 76ers had trouble beating the improving Cleveland Cavaliers.

Tuesday night, the 76ers were without their big man in the middle, Moses Malone, his backup, Clemon Johnson, and starting guard Clint Richardson. So it figured the 76ers would have trouble.

Trouble was hardly the word for it. With their big men, 6-9 Roy Hinson and 6-9 Ben Poquette dominating the smaller 76ers, the Cavaliers, to the delight of 12,527 fans at Richfield, Ohio, routed the 76ers, 116-89.

It was the Cavaliers’ third win in a row over the 76ers. The other two came when Malone, Richardson and Johnson were available. Malone and Richardson both have sprained ankles, and Johnson is on the disabled list.

Most of the game, the 76ers had Sam Williams (6-8) or Bobby Jones (6-9) at center. Time after time, Poquette, Mark West (6-10) and Hinson went over them for easy shots.

Hinson knows how Williams and Jones felt. Last season, Hinson was the Cavaliers’ center. Most games he was simply overpowered by bigger, stronger centers.

The play of Hinson at power forward is a reason the Cavaliers, after a slow start, are challenging for a playoff spot. While Hinson, a four-year starter at center for Rutgers, was learning to play forward, the Cavaliers won only 2 of their first 21 games.

They are 26-21 since the horrible start, and Hinson has become a good power forward.

“I like the freedom of a forward,” Hinson said. “I had to learn to guard guys who were facing me, but I’m getting better. The whole team is getting better.”

Julius Erving and Charles Barkley each scored 10 points in the first half to keep the 76ers within seven points. But Hinson, who finished with 21 points, scored 11 in the third quarter and the Cavaliers stretched the lead to 12. By the middle of the fourth quarter the lead reached 32.

Poquette came off the bench to score 19 and another sub, Johnny Davis, had 18. It was an off night for World B. Free, who has been leading their late-season spurt. Free was only 5 for 19, but his teammates came through and the Cavaliers remained 1 1/2 games ahead of Atlanta in the battle for the last playoff spot in the East.

Phil Hubbard of the Cavaliers limped off the floor after six minutes with an injured knee. It will be checked today.

Atlanta 103, Washington 97--Dominique Wilkins scored 7 of his 32 points in the last three minutes at New Orleans after the Hawks blew a 22-point lead.

The Hawks built the 22-point margin in the first half, but it was only 12 at halftime and with 3:01 to play, the Bullets led, 91-90.

Wilkins turned a layup into a three-point play when he was fouled. After Washington tied it, Wilkins sank an 18-footer to give the Hawks the lead for good.

Houston 106, Chicago 100--Akeem Olajuwon, coming back strong after his weak performance Sunday at Boston, scored 24 points and had 21 rebounds at Houston. The Rockets needed all the help he could give them, because the league’s other outstanding rookie, Michael Jordan, scored 31 points and had seven assists.

With the Rockets leading, 102-100, Jordan took a jump shot that 7-4 Ralph Sampson blocked. Sampson grabbed the ball and took it the length of the court for a game-winning dunk. Sampson had 26 points and 11 rebounds.

Dallas 96, San Antonio 89--Jay Vincent scored 35 points to lead the Mavericks at Dallas.

Dallas’ Mark Aguirre was ejected after he picked up his second technical with four minutes left in the third quarter after scoring only four points. Derek Harper of the Mavericks was ejected on technicals in the second quarter.

Milwaukee 130, New Jersey 111--Terry Cummings scored 24 points at Milwaukee and Paul Mokeski came off the bench to add 18 against the injury-riddled Nets. The Nets were without Otis Birdsong, Albert King, Mike O’Koren and Mike Gminski.

Portland 143, Detroit 123--Kiki Vandeweghe continues to lead the surge of the Trail Blazers. In this game at Portland, the Blazers coasted to their third in a row, and Vandeweghe had 30 or more for the third in a row.

Vandeweghe had 38 points and has a three-game total of 103.