NBA Roundup : Knicks’ Defense Meets Match in Bucks

The New York Knicks and the Milwaukee Bucks are two of only a few teams in the National Basketball Assn. that stress defense.

It works for the Bucks, who lead the Central Division. But for the Knicks, just about all it does is make for tough defeats.

Sidney Moncrief led Milwaukee to a superlative defensive effort in the second half Thursday night at New York as they came from behind to defeat the Knicks, 105-95. It was the 10th time in a row that the Bucks had beaten the Knicks.

New York has the best defensive record in the league. It is the only team holding opponents to an average of under 100 points a game. But this loss, which came after the Knicks built an eight-point lead late in the third quarter, gave them a 5-15 record, one of the worst in the league.

On the other hand the Bucks, who outscored the Knicks, 15-4, during a four-minute spurt in the fourth quarter, have given up an average of 108 points a game. Milwaukee’s 16-7 record is good enough to lead the division by two games over Detroit.

Moncrief scored 19 points, but it was his three steals that sparked the Buck surge in the fourth quarter that wiped out an 83-82 Knick lead. The Knicks were guilty of 26 turnovers.

Detroit 113, New Jersey 111--Isiah Thomas is playing with a hyperextended right knee and sometimes hobbles up the court. But the brilliant guard is still the key player for the Pistons.

In this game at Pontiac, Mich., Thomas scored 17 of his game-high 28 points in the second half. He also had 10 assists, including one on John Long’s layup that broke a 108-108 tie with 48 seconds to play.

San Antonio 120, Dallas 116--The Spurs started fast and finished fast at Dallas to end the Mavericks’ six-game winning streak.

The Spurs made their first nine shots to take an 18-4 lead. Then, after the Mavericks fought back to go ahead, 105-104, with 3:07 left, the Spurs surged once again for the victory.

Cleveland 100, Seattle 97--Mel Turpin scored 8 of his 19 points in the fourth quarter at Richfield, Ohio, and it was his 15-foot jumper with 4:25 left that put the Cavaliers ahead to stay.