NBA Roundup : When Rested, Aging 76ers Are Tough, 125-110

The Philadelphia 76ers are a team growing old. They are struggling this season just to stay over .500.

Don’t be surprised, though, if the 76ers are a factor in the playoffs. Any time the 76ers have had three or more days off this season, they have been virtually unbeatable.

The 76ers hadn’t played since Sunday when they took the Spectrum floor Wednesday night to play the Cleveland Cavaliers. With a well-rested Moses Malone scoring 34 points, the 76ers breezed to a 125-110 victory.

The 76ers held only a 65-60 lead at halftime, but Julius Erving, at 35 one of the aging veterans, sank four consecutive jumpers early in the third quarter to lead the 76ers on a rampage. In a little over five minutes the 76ers outscored the Cavaliers, 16-6, to assume a commanding lead.

The veterans, Malone, Erving and Maurice Cheeks, who formed the nucleus of the 1982-83 team that swept through the playoffs with the loss of only one game, are still tough to handle when they have plenty of rest.

The 76ers believe they have snapped an early-season slump and are not too old. A test will be tonight when they play the Bulls at Chicago and Saturday when they are at Atlanta.

“I think we are coming around,” new Coach Matt Guokas said. “We were hit with a rash of injuries (Andrew Toney, Sedale Threatt, Erving and Bobby Jones) and it has taken us time to recover. Sedale is due back soon, and then we should start to roll.”

The Cavaliers outrebounded the 76ers, 46-41, but were guilty of 31 turnovers. Guards John Bagley and World B. Free each had five.

Indiana 114, San Antonio 101--Bouncing back from what Coach George Irvine called the worst game he ever saw, the Pacers scored more points in the first half at Indianapolis (65) than they did in the entire game Tuesday night at New York (64).

Rookie Wayman Tisdale, one of those who contributed to a 25.7% shooting performance agains the Knicks, had his biggest night. He made 12 of 19 shots from the field, had 10 rebounds and scored 28 points in 36 minutes.

Irvine, apparently intent on shaking up Steve Stipanovich, started former Stuart Gray. The former UCLA center played 13 minutes, made 5 fouls, was 1-for-1 from the field, had 3 rebounds and sank both free throw attempts. Stipanovich scored 15 points in 20 minutes of action.

Boston 118, Sacramento 101--The Celtics caught the Kings on the fifth stop of an Eastern trip and had their easiest game. With Larry Bird leading the way, Boston built a 34-point lead in the third quarter.

Bird, who had missed 13 three-point shots in a row, sank two straight and finished with 24 points, 7 rebounds and 5 assists in 28 minutes.

It may have been a costly victory. Late in the first period, Dennis Johnson injured his left wrist while rebounding. X-rays indicated he had suffered a hairline fracture and will be out indefinitely.

Atlanta 105, Seattle 97--Dominique Wilkins scored 6 of his 31 points in a 12-0 spurt early in the game at Atlanta that sent the Hawks into a lead they never relinquished.

The SuperSonics led, 2-0, when Wilkins led the surge. The SuperSonics, playing their fifth road game in seven nights, had a 13-1 run late in the game that made the final score close.

Washington 108, Detroit 100--Frank Johnson scored 27 points, including four in the closing minutes to seal the victory at Pontiac, Mich. He also contributed 10 assists as the Bullets handed the Pistons their fourth loss in 14 home games.

The game was tied after each of the first three quarters.

Kelly Tripucka led the Pistons with 24 points. He sank 10 consecutive baskets in the second and third periods.

Utah 119, Portland 112--Adrian Dantley scored 36 points at Salt Lake City to help the Jazz bounce back from Tuesday night’s weak performance at Houston. The Jazz lost to the Rockets, the Midwest Division leaders, 135-104.

Rookie Karl Malone had 20 for Utah, which took the lead halfway through the first quarter and never trailed again.

Phoenix 123, Golden State 113--Walter Davis scored seven consecutive points late in the game at Oakland to bring the Suns from behind to gain their sixth win in 22 games.

The Warriors led, 108-107, with three minutes left when Davis went on his scoring spree. Davis finished with 43 points, 29 in the second half.