NBA Roundup : Dantley Hits 41 Points as Utah Beats Atlanta for Third Win on Trip

Most experts believe that Houston and Denver will battle it out for the Midwest Division title. It may be that Frank Layden’s Utah Jazz will join the contenders.

After losing its first two games, the Jazz has started to make a move. The interesting thing about the move is that the team is doing it on the road. To be a contender, it is essential to win on the road.

With Adrian Dantley scoring 41 points, Utah rolled to a 116-106 victory Saturday night at Atlanta, the third victory in four games on this trip. The only loss was in overtime at Boston.

Dantley, who scored 28 points in the first half and sank a clutch jumper in the closing seconds after the Hawks closed within two points, has led the Jazz spurt that has improved the record to 8-7.

In the four games on the trip which will conclude Monday night at Indiana, Dantley has scored 142 points, averaging 35.5 per game. He has made 50 of 82 field goal attempts for 60% efficiency.

His hot shooting in the first half enabled the Jazz to take the lead, 46-44, in the second quarter and the Jazz led the rest of the way.

The lead was five going into the last period. But Dominique Wilkins, who scored 31, made a dunk to bring Atlanta within two with four minutes left. Dantley’s basket started a 13-5 spurt that clinched the victory.

“We’ve been playing hard,” Dantley told the Associated Press. “They say when you play hard, something good is going to happen to you. That’s the way it’s been except in the game at Boston. We could have beaten the Celtics with just a little luck.”

Dantley, battling Denver’s Alex English for the scoring title, has had to concentrate even more on scoring than he has in the past. At least until January, the Jazz will be without sharpshooting guard Darrell Griffith. Griffith broke a foot before the season began.

Offsetting the loss of Griffith is the play of bulky rookie forward Karl Malone. Malone has replaced Thurl Bailey in the starting lineup. He has been particularly helpful on offense.

“I said before the season began that I would be happy with 46 wins,” Layden said. “We are in a tough division and I still think that would be a good season.”

Boston 113, New York 104--Patrick Ewing returned to the Knick lineup in this game at New York after missing two games because of a sprained ankle. But, he and his teammates couldn’t handle the Celtics’ big men, Robert Parish and Kevin McHale.

With Larry Bird still fighting a shooting slump, Parish scored 27 and McHale 25 to overcome the stubborn, but outmanned Knicks. Ewing, playing 39 minutes, had 18 points and 10 rebounds.

Bird scored 18 points, but only three after intermission. He was 6-for-21 from the field. In the last three games, he is only 21-for-62 from the field.

Denver 122, Sacramento 118--Calvin Natt is usually known as the other forward with high-scoring Alex English. But, as the Nuggets held off the Kings to win their ninth in a row without a loss at home, Natt was the star.

He scored 29 points, 10 of them in the fourth quarter. Most of them came just after the Kings had pulled to within a basket.

Detroit 119, Philadelphia 114--The 76ers continue to struggle, even at home. Kelly Tripucka scored 17 of his 19 points in the second half, including six in the last four minutes to wipe out a desperate 76er rally.

The 76ers, now 6-7 for the season, trailed, 103-94, with 6:48 left, then ran off eight consecutive points. Tripucka then made a three-point play and converted a free throw on a technical foul.

Vinnie Johnson led the Pistons with 25 points. At one point in the second quarter, he sank five shots in a row. The Pistons, after a slow start, have won three in a row and eight out of 11.

Chicago 135, Golden State 108--The Warriors are having a rough time trying to win on the road without injured center Joe Barry Carroll. In this game at Chicago, George Gervin scored 12 of his 32 points in the third quarter when the Bulls broke open a close game. It was the third loss in a row on the trip.

Dallas 117, Indiana 104--Mark Aguirre had a triple double at Dallas and the Mavericks held off a determined rally by the Pacers. Aguirre had 25 points, 13 rebounds and 11 assists.