NBA Roundup : Cavaliers Beat 76ers for 4th Straight Time

The Cleveland Cavaliers are close to clinching a playoff berth for the first time in seven years mainly because they’ve learned how to beat the Philadelphia 76ers.

With World B. Free scoring 25 points and Phil Hubbard sinking four free throws in the clutch, the Cavaliers defeated the 76ers, 113-110, Wednesday night at Philadelphia. It was the fourth time in a row that the Cavaliers have beaten the 76ers, and it gave them a three-game edge over Atlanta for the final playoff spot with six games remaining.

The Cavaliers built a 20-point lead in the second quarter, and it appeared that they would coast to their fifth victory in a row. The lead was still 10 in the fourth quarter, but Moses Malone led a 16-6 spurt that tied the game at 105-105 with 2:33 remaining.

Cleveland didn’t make another field goal but did make eight consecutive free throws, four by Hubbard, to pull out the victory.

The 76ers opened the season by beating the Cavaliers, 110-101, to start them off to a 2-19 record. The teams didn’t meet again until late January. By this time, the Cavaliers were showing improvement. Still, they lost by one point. It was the last time the 76ers beat the Cavaliers.

The Cavaliers beat the 76ers twice in the space of three nights in February, then embarrassed them, 116-89, last month.

Unfortunately, the Cavaliers probably won’t get a shot at their patsies in the playoffs. Assuming they win the final berth, they will face the defending champion Boston Celtics, a team they have found too tough to handle.

Since the 2-19 beginning, the Cavaliers are 31-24. John Bagley, a substitute during the poor start, has become the playmaker on a team that has finally come together under Coach George Karl.

“It took us a long time to adjust to each other,” Bagley said. “Everyone was trying; we just weren’t getting any results. Lately, we have been playing outstanding ball.”

Chicago 100, Washington 91--The Bulls drafted Michael Jordan with the idea that he would put them in the playoffs after an absence of four years.

Although Jordan has had a fine rookie season, it was not until this game at Landover, Md., their 77th game of the season that the Bulls clinched a playoff spot. It was only the Bulls’ third win in their last 21 road games.

Once again, Jordan was the driving force. In a 30-10 run that broke open a close game early in the third quarter, Jordan scored 14 points, and the Bulls were never headed.

As he has all season, Orlando Woolridge complemented Jordan, also scoring 25 points to give the Bulls a solid one-two punch.

Boston 119, Indiana 103--Larry Bird returned to action, and he quickly restored order in Boston.

When Bird missed two games earlier this week because of a sore elbow, the Celtics lost their only consecutive games of the season.

Of course, they were also missing Cedric Maxwell, Danny Ainge and reserve M. L. Carr.

In this game at Boston, Maxwell and Carr were still out, and although Ainge played 26 minutes, he was ineffective.

Bird simply was Bird. He scored 35 points, had 11 rebounds and 6 assists and played 39 minutes. He made 16 of 28 field-goal attempts and didn’t appear to be in pain. He was largely responsible for the hapless Pacers losing their 12th game in a row and 17th of their last 18.

New Jersey 113, New York 100--Micheal Ray Richardson had 17 points and 17 assists at East Rutherford, N.J., to help the Nets present Coach Stan Albeck with his 300th victory.

It was the eighth consecutive time that the Nets have defeated the crippled Knicks. In the absence of the league’s top scorer, Bernard King, the Knicks’ scoring leader was Ernie Grunfeld with 26 points.

Bernard’s younger brother, Albert, scored 23 points to lead the Nets.