NBA Playoffs : Erving Rallies the 76ers to 3-0 Lead Over Bucks

Coach Billy Cunningham of the Philadelphia 76ers said he didn’t expect the Milwaukee Bucks to roll over. And they didn’t.

The Bucks overcame a third period 18-point deficit, went ahead and then lost in the final minute.

Julius Erving’s two field goals in the last 56 seconds triggered the 76ers to a 109-104 victory Friday night and a 3-0 lead in the best-of-seven second-round playoff series.

“This was more like I expected the series to be, a truly defensive battle,” said Cunningham, whose 76ers beat the Bucks in the first two games at Milwaukee. “It was nice to see our defense rise up at the end and create some opportunities for us to win.”

Erving said: “Our defense really was the key tonight. It boiled down to us tightening up and not allowing them to score a hoop when they needed it.”

Of his long jumper with 56 seconds to play that tied the score, Erving said: “It was a big one because it put a lot of pressure on them. I knew it was good when I saw it coming down.”

“Then we came back and were able to force a turnover that gave us the breakaway basket. They couldn’t overcome it.”

Maurice Cheeks, whose steal set up Erving’s go-ahead layup with 38 seconds left, said the 76ers won the game on the defensive end. “We let them come back because of carelessness,” Cheeks said.

The Bucks led, 104-102, with 1:20 left after breaking the seventh tie in the final period on a basket by Alton Lister. Erving then hit a long jumper a foot inside the three-point line as the 24-second shot clock was about to expire, tying the score with 56 seconds left.

The Bucks came downcourt, and Cheeks stole the ball from Terry Cummings and passed to Erving for a layup that put the 76ers ahead to stay at 106-104.

Andrew Toney led the 76ers with 20 points, while Erving and rookie Charles Barkley each had 19 for Philadelphia, which has a chance to finish a 4-0 sweep here in Game 4 Sunday.

Cummings had 21 points, 17 of them in the first half, while Paul Pressey collected 20 and Sidney Moncrief 17 for the Bucks.