NBA Roundup : Celtics, Minus Bird, Lose to Bucks

Sidney Moncrief and Terry Cummings returned to the lineup for the Bucks Tuesday night at Milwaukee, but Larry Bird didn’t return and it probably cost the Boston Celtics a shot at an unusual record.

Before Bird, the outstanding player in the NBA this season, decided to rest a sore elbow Sunday, the Celtics were in position to become the first team in league history to go through a season without losing back-to-back games.

With Bird missing, the Detroit Pistons beat the Celtics Sunday and the Bucks, winners of two games while their two stars were out, outlasted the crippled Celtics, 109-103, to ruin the bid. It was the Bucks their seventh win in a row.

The Celtics were also without two other regulars, Cedric Maxwell and Danny Ainge. Maxwell is still having problems with an injured knee, while Ainge has missed two games because of back spasms.

Scott Wedman, Bird’s replacement, scored 22 points to outscore both Moncrief and Cummings, but the Celtics missed Bird’s all-round play. They aren’t sure when they will have the league’s No. 2 scorer and No. 10 rebounder back.

“I just can’t extend my arm fully when I shoot,” Bird said after giving it a try Monday in practice. “I’ve had the pain before, but it always went away after a day or two.

“This time it hasn’t gotten any better. I still feel tightness every time I take a shot.”

Bird is afraid it may be bone chips.

“Once last summer when I was playing on asphalt,” Bird said, “I really came down hard on the elbow. When I came down on it I felt I really crunched everything. Maybe I did some damage to the (bursar) sac in there. On the other hand, maybe it’s only tendinitis.

“I just hope I’ll be ready for the playoffs.”

Moncrief, Cummings and Paul Pressey each scored 18 points as the Bucks took a 3-1 advantage over the Celtics in their season’s series.

Surprisingly, though, it was a struggle all the way. The lead was only 100-99 with 2:26 remaining. But Randy Pierce and Paul Mokeski came through with clutch baskets to raise the lead to five points.

Phoenix 119, Seattle 109--In this game at Phoenix, the Suns tied a record for most games missed by players because of injuries. With four of the Suns’ starters out of this one, they have lost players for a combined 238 games. Golden State had the same number in 1982-83.

With all the injuries, the Suns are closing in on a playoff spot. Alvan Adams, replacing the most recent casualty, Maurice Lucas (knee injury), scored 13 of his 28 points in the fourth quarter to lead the Suns’ rally. A jumper by the only starter still available, Kyle Macy, gave the Suns the lead for good, 99-97, with 6:41 to play. It triggered a 10-0 spurt.

The Suns lead Utah by 2 1/2 games and Seattle, missing its best player, Jack Sikma, because of injury, by 3 in the scramble for the last playoff spot in the West.

Cleveland 122, Washington 107--World B. Free scored 13 points in an 18-0 spurt in the third period at Richfield, Ohio, that carried the Cavaliers close to a playoff spot.

With Atlanta losing, the Cavaliers moved 2 1/2 games ahead of the Hawks in the battle for the final playoff spot in the East. The Cavaliers have seven games remaining and can win the spot by winning five of them.

The Cavaliers improved their record to 32-43, a remarkable record for a team that began the season 2-19.

Cleveland scored the first eight points of the game and maintained the lead most of the game. But, with 5:20 left in the third quarter, Gus Williams sank a jumper and Washington trailed only, 66-64. Free then made a layup to start the Cavaliers spree that turned the game into a rout.

Philadelphia 102, Atlanta 91--The Hawks were only three points behind after three quarters at Atlanta, but were done in by George Johnson.

Johnson, playing in place of ailing Julius Erving, sank four consecutive long range jumpers to open the last quarter. When it took the Hawks more than six minutes to make a field goal, they lost all chance.

Dallas 127, Golden State 121--Mark Aguirre scored 10 of his 41 points in the first five minutes of the fourth quarter at Oakland to lead the Mavericks to victory.

On the opening tipoff, referee Jesse Kersey was struck on the nose by Dallas center Sam Perkins and had to leave. Terry Durham officiated the remainder of the firt half by himself and Kersey returned for the second half.

Detroit 124, Indiana 121--It took a 29-point performance by Isiah Thomas at Indianapolis to enable the Pistons to extend the Pacers’ losing streak to 11 games. The hapless Pacers have lost 16 of their last 17.

Chicago 108, New Jersey 94--Michael Jordan scored 31 points at Chicago and Orlando Woolridge had 25 as the Bulls beat the injury-riddled Nets.

Portland 127, Houston 113--Clyde Drexler put on a show at Portland. Drexler scored 30 points, had 8 assists and 7 steals to lead the Trail Blazers. Akeem Olajuwon had 23 points and 15 rebounds for the Rockets.