NBA Roundup : Walton Helps Celtics Hold Off Hawks

Bill Walton, who was not much of a factor in his first three games for the Boston Celtics, came through in the clutch Friday night at Boston to lead his new team to a 109-105 victory over stubborn Atlanta.

Walton, playing most of the second half, made a three-point play with less than two minutes remaining to give the Celtics the lead for good and help overcome a 40-point performance by Dominique Wilkins.

The Hawks, without starting guards Doc Rivers (broken arm) and Eddie Johnson (out of shape after holding out), gave the Celtics all they could handle. A fallaway jumper by Wilkins gave the Hawks a 96-91 lead with 2 1/2 minutes left.

Walton scored six of the points in an 8-0 spurt that wiped out the lead. His three-point play put the Celtics ahead to stay, 98-96.

The often-injured big man had 14 points and 8 rebounds. In his first three games as a Celtic, Walton totaled 14 points.

Walton was filling in for slump-ridden Robert Parish, who missed all five shots he took and was benched most of the second half.

“I like playing on this team,” Walton said. “There’s a lot of talent here. And I love tough games like this.”

Larry Bird played 41 minutes, scored 25 points and had 7 rebounds, 5 assists and 9 turnovers.

New Jersey 106, Philadelphia 102--New Coach Matt Guokas and Moses Malone are having a difference of opinion on how much the 76ers’ center should play. Malone wants to play 40 or more minutes per game, the coach wants him to play fewer minutes so he will be stronger at the finish.

In this game at East Rutherford, N.J., Malone played 40 minutes and was no factor in the closing moments, when Buck Williams took charge and led the Nets to victory. Williams had eight points in a four-minute spurt that clinched the victory in the fourth quarter.

Williams had 27 points and 13 rebounds. Malone, shooting 7 for 16, had 17 points and 12 rebounds.

Detroit 124, Indiana 116--Isiah Thomas scored 11 of his 29 points in the fourth quarter at Pontiac, Mich., to spark the Piston comeback.

The Pistons trailed, 78-58, early in the third quarter before Thomas and Earl Cureton started their winning rally.

San Antonio 116, Dallas 107--Mike Mitchell scored 10 of his 24 points in the first quarter at San Antonio to help the Spurs build a 36-28 lead. The lead was 10 at halftime, and the Mavericks never did catch up.

Rolando Blackman of the Mavericks scored 29 points to lead all scorers.

Utah 121, Phoenix 110--Adrian Dantley scored 38 points at Salt Lake City to lead the Jazz to victory over the Suns. Dantley has scored 133 points in four games.

The second victory in a row evened the Jazz’s record at 2-2. The Suns are 0-4.