NBA Roundup : 76ers Exploit Warriors’ Weak Middle, 117-113

The Golden State Warriors continue to be the surprise team of the National Basketball Assn. They just missed pulling another upset Wednesday night at Philadelphia although they were missing injured big man, Joe Barry Carroll.

The 76ers’ strong men, Moses Malone and Charles Barkley, produced the points that enabled them to come from behind in the last 11 seconds and beat the Warriors, 117-113.

Although Carroll was out with an ankle injury, the Warriors, on a jump shot by Sleepy Floyd, took a 113-111 lead with 23 seconds left. And, 10 seconds later, when Floyd stole the ball and passed to Chris Mullin for a layup, it appeared the Warriors had their eighth win in the last nine games. However, Floyd stepped on the end line, the play was nullified and the 76ers had another chance.

This time they passed the ball to Malone and he drove the middle, tied the score and was fouled by third-string center, 6-9 Peter Verhoeven. Malone had made 12 consecutive free throws, but with 11 seconds left, he missed. Barkley muscled in for the rebound and was fouled. The bulky 6-6 forward made both free throws and completed the scoring with a dunk at the buzzer.

Owner Harold Katz wasn’t impressed with the 76ers’ victory. His comments in the locker room led to an angry exchange of words with Barkley.

“If they’re happy, they’re fooling themselves,” Katz told the Associated Press. “That was a tainted victory. I’ve tried to be patient but I’m losing my patience.”

In the absence of Carroll, who made the key basket Tuesday night against Cleveland, the Warriors started Jerome Whitehead and when he fouled out, Verhoeven, normally a forward, tried to guard Malone. Malone wound up with 28 points and 13 rebounds.

Floyd had 27 points and nine assists to lead the Warriors, who have not won at Philadelphia in seven games since 1979.

Detroit 109, New York 98--No team in sports has had more injury problems over the last two seasons than the Knicks. For this game at Pontiac, Mich., they were without their talented rookie center Patrick Ewing. Ewing has a sprained ankle and is out indefinitely.

Coach Chuck Daly, unhappy with the play of the Pistons, made a lineup change that worked wonders. Kent Benson made his first start of the season at power forward and responded with 21 points against the crippled Knicks.

Boston 115, Utah 106--Robert Parish sank four free throws in the first minute of overtime and the Celtics went on to keep their home record perfect (6-0).

All five Boston starters played at least 39 minutes and scored in double figures. It isn’t exactly what Coach K.C. Jones wants. He seeks more help from his bench.

But, with reserves on the floor at the start of the fourth quarter, Adrian Dantley led a 10-2 Utah surge to take an 86-79 lead. Back came the starters and the Celtics battled back.

Atlanta 116, Chicago 101--Dominique Wilkins scored 13 of his 28 points in the first quarter at Atlanta to get the Hawks off to a fast start and the Bulls never had a chance.

Quintin Dailey, playing his second game after returning from drug rehabilitation, led the Bulls with 23 points.

Washington 101, Cleveland 98--Gus Williams scored seven of his 19 points in a 13-6 spurt just before halftime at Landover, Md., that gave the Bullets the lead for good.

The Cavaliers lost World B. Free when he injured both hamstring muscles in the first half.

Houston 126, Indiana 97--Akeem Olajuwon and Ralph Sampson dominated at both ends of the court at Houston in an easy victory over the Pacers.

Olajuwon had 28 points, 10 rebounds and 6 blocked shots. Sampson, coming out of a two-game slump, had 26 points, 11 rebounds, 7 assists and 4 blocked shots.

Phoenix 121, San Antonio 100--Larry Nance scored 26 points, while Alvan Adams had 23 points at Phoenix to lead the Suns to their second victory in 13 games. The Suns led by 12 at halftime and 13 after three quarters.

Milwaukee 116, Seattle 106--Terry Cummings scored 14 of his 28 points in the first quarter at Seattle to help the Bucks build a 12-point lead en route to their fifth in a row.