NBA Roundup : Cavaliers Win Again and Close In on Playoff Berth

John Bagley made a layup with two seconds remaining Friday night at Detroit to give the Cleveland Cavaliers a 119-118 victory over the Pistons and move them closer to a playoff spot.

The Cavaliers’ sixth consecutive victory gave them a three-game lead over the Atlanta Hawks in the fight for the final playoff berth in the East. The Cavaliers, by winning three of their last five games, could enter postseason play for the first time since 1978.

All this after one of the worst starts ever by an NBA team, 2-19. The surge to a probable playoff spot actually began when Bagley, a third-year guard, was moved into the starting lineup because of an injury to Johnny Davis.

At the time, the Cavaliers were 10-25 and had no thoughts of making the playoffs. However, Bagley and World B. Free have turned out to be an outstanding backcourt combination. Most of the time it has been Free scoring and Bagley assisting.

But in this game, both were in a scoring mood. Free, making 15 of 21 shots, had 37 points. Bagley making 13 of 17 shots, had 28 points and still found time for 13 assists and 7 rebounds.

Davis, long since recovered from his injury, is now the third guard. Since Bagley became a starter, the Cavaliers are 24-18.

In the six-game winning streak, Bagley has averaged 16 points and 10 assists and shot 62.7% from the field. In the last five games, Free has averaged 30.5 points while shooting at a 53.8% clip.

Despite the play of Bagley and Free, the Cavaliers almost didn’t win this one. Free scored 23 points in the first quarter to give the Cavaliers a lead they held most of the night.

But with 42 seconds left, Isiah Thomas sank a three-point shot to give Detroit a 118-117 lead. After a miss by Free, Thomas also missed a jumper. Following Bagley’s layup, the Pistons had one more chance, but Kelly Tripucka, who scored 25 points, made an errant pass.

Denver 118, San Antonio 109--In pregame ceremonies at Denver, the Nuggets retired the No. 44 jersey of Dan Issel and presented the veteran with a number of gifts.

Issel, retiring after this season, started for the first time this season and scored 18 points to help the Nuggets move within one victory of clinching the Midwest Division.

Boston 115, Washington 105--Coach K.C. Jones planned on giving his regulars some time off in this game at Boston, but he was forced to use Larry Bird 44 minutes and Kevin McHale 46.

Bird scored 20 of his 26 points in the second half to assure the Celtics their 61st victory.

Philadelphia 116, Chicago 113--Michael Jordan scored 40 points at Philadelphia, but he fouled out with 82 seconds remaining, and the 76ers pulled out the victory.

With less than two minutes to play, Jordan sank a jumper to give the Bulls a 109-107 lead. The 76ers then made four free throws, and Bobby Jones scored on a breakaway to put the game out of reach.

Moses Malone had 27 points and 19 rebounds to lead the 76ers.

Portland 145, Seattle 120--Kiki Vandeweghe scored 17 of his 19 points in the first half at Portland to help the Trail Blazers build a 76-57 lead on their way to an easy victory.

The ninth win in the last 11 games for the Trail Blazers dealt a severe blow to the SuperSonics’ hopes of making the playoffs.

In the battle for the final spot in the West, the Sonics now trail Phoenix by 2 1/2 games with only four games left.