Celtics Win, 121-115, but Cavaliers Earn Their Praise

The Boston Celtics found out their first-round playoff matchup with the Cleveland Cavaliers may not be as simple as it appears on paper.

The Celtics beat the Cavaliers for the 15th straight time, 121-115, Thursday night at Richfield, Ohio, but it wasn’t that easy.

“So much for the rap Cleveland has,” Boston’s Larry Bird said. “We always respected the Cavs, but now we admire them as well.

“They ran us around in circles. It’s not often that happens.”

Bird scored 29 points.

Kevin McHale, who had 25 points and 11 rebounds, added six decisive points in the closing 3:24 as the Celtics held on by scoring the last five.

Boston plays host to Cleveland in the first two games of the best-of-five opening round next week.

“Games like this prove that every team must be taken seriously,” Boston Coach K.C. Jones said. “Hopefully, we’ve learned something about them that might make it easier next time.”

McHale’s four points gave Boston a 114-107 edge, but Cleveland narrowed the gap to 116-115 with 55 seconds left on Lonnie Shelton’s layup and a three-point basket by John Bagley.

McHale sealed the victory by making a layup with 37 seconds left, and Dennis Johnson added three free throws in the closing seconds.

for the final margin.

World B. Free had 24 points for Cleveland.

Houston 125, Kansas City 123--Ralph Sampson’s 10-footer with two seconds remaining at Kansas City gave the Rockets their fifth victory in six games with the Kings this season.

Kansas City’s Eddie Johnson tied the score on an 18-footer with 10 seconds left.

Sampson and Akeem Olajuwon each had 31 points for the Rockets, and Olajuwon picked off 11 rebounds. Johnson had 26 points and Mike Woodson added 24 for the Kings.

Utah 145, Portland 107--Adrian Dantley scored 23 points, and the Jazz trounced the Trail Blazers at Salt Lake City in the most lopsided victory in franchise history.

The 38-point margin of victory broke the old record of 30 set against San Antonio in December 1979. The Jazz outscored the Blazers, 10-1, to start the third quarter for a 47-point lead, 115-68.

Dallas 124, Seattle 80--Mark Aguirre scored 30 points and Rolando Blackman added 20 as the Mavericks routed the SuperSonics at Tacoma, Wash.