NBA Roundup : Short and Mullin Turn Warriors Around

Two weeks ago, the Golden State Warriors were about as low as they could get. The team that lost 60 of 82 games last season was off to a 1-5 start and was without sharpshooter Purvis Short and No. 1 draft choice, Chris Mullin.

It is amazing how the Warriors’ fortunes changed within hours of signing Short and Mullin.

They may not be ready to challenge the Lakers, but they have suddenly blossomed into a good basketball team.

On Tuesday, Joe Barry Carroll sank a 10-foot baseline jumper with 10 seconds remaining at Richfield, Ohio, to break a 102-102 tie and the Warriors went on to post a 110-104 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers.

It was the first win in five road games for the Warriors and the sixth win in seven games since the two holdouts entered the fold. It was the fourth loss without a victory at home for the Cavaliers, a respectable 5-3 on the road.

The Warriors led most of the game, once by 11 points, but with 31 seconds left, the Cavaliers had tied the score, and Roy Hinson was at the line for two shots. He missed them both and, after Carroll’s basket, he was guilty of a turnover. Terry Teagle made four free throws to put the game out of reach.

Carroll scored 28 points, but Short, scoring 10 in the fourth quarter, led everyone with 32.

“Somebody had to shoot it,” Carroll said of the decisive shot. “I had to either shoot it or we would have let the clock run out.”

Carroll, the high-scoring center, spent last season in Italy and didn’t want to rejoin the Warriors. However, he has regained his touch and appears happy now that Short and Mullin are helping take the pressure off him.

“I am finding it much more enjoyable,” Coach John Bach said. “It was tough last season and for the first six games this year. We have a number of players making big contributions. Tonight, Terry came through.”

Teagle usually starts but gives way early to Mullin, the former St. John’s star. In this game, Mullin didn’t play too well. He was only 3 for 10 in the game and sat out most of the second half.

Teagle scored 21 points, sinking eight of 14 shots from the field and made all five free throws.

New York 98, Washington 94--When their rookie center Patrick Ewing went down in a heap 2 1/2 minutes into the game at New York, the Knicks naturally feared it was bad.

In the last two seasons, they had lost such stars as Bernard King, Bill Cartwright and Marvin Webster to crippling injuries.

Ewing, who tripped over Bullet center Charles Jones, had to be helped off the floor. He was rushed to a hospital for X-rays of his left ankle, but the injury was diagnosed as merely a sprain. It is possible he can play tonight at Detroit.

His replacement, Pat Cummings, himself just off the injured list, scored seven of his 16 points in the last four minutes to preserve the Knicks’ third victory in a row.

“We are only 3-8,” said Coach Hubie Brown, who still doesn’t have King, Cartwright or Webster back, “but we easily could be 8-3. We played well enough to win all but three of those first eight games we lost. Luck is finally coming our way.”

Chicago 121, Indiana 114--Chicago Coach Stan Albeck has been waiting patiently for George Gervin’s touch to return. The four-time scoring champion, once considered the sharpest of the sharpshooters, was shooting 36.7%.

In this game at Chicago, the Gervin of old reappeared. Gervin was 15 of 18 from the field and scored nine of his season-high 34 points in the fourth quarter to trigger the winning rally.

Orlando Woolridge, who had 35 points, broke a 112-112 tie with a three-point play that gave the Bulls the lead for good with 65 seconds remaining.

Dallas 123, Phoenix 119--Mark Aguirre scored 22 of his 36 points in the second half at Dallas, and Rolando Blackman sank four free throws in the last 11 seconds to help the Mavericks squeeze out a victory.

Walter Davis, who scored 34 points, sank a three-point basket with 13 seconds left to pull the Suns within two points. But Blackman was fouled two seconds later and put the game out of reach.

Sacramento 103, San Antonio 99--Mike Woodson came off the bench to score 22 of his 26 points in the second half at San Antonio to help the Kings end their four-game road losing streak.

The Spurs went into the last quarter with an 82-75 lead. But in the first 7 1/2 minutes of the final period they scored only six points.

New Jersey 108, Portland 102--Buck Williams had 22 points and 16 rebounds at Portland to lead the Nets to victory. Williams took advantage of the absence of Portland center Sam Bowie.

After missing two games, Bowie returned to the lineup but aggravated a toe injury in the second quarter.