NBA Roundup : Stipanovich Leaves Bench and Rises to the Occasion

The Indiana Pacers thought that Steve Stipanovich, in his third season as a professional, might become a valuable asset.

The former Missouri center improved each of his first two seasons in the NBA. But lately, he has been a disappointment.

In recent games, the Pacers have searched for a starting center to replace Stipanovich. They tried former UCLA player Stuart Gray. Then in Friday night’s game at Indianapolis against the Milwaukee Bucks, Herb Williams, normally a forward, opened at center.

If the idea was to shake up Stipanovich and get him to play better, it worked. With the Pacers trailing, 87-80, after three quarters, Stipanovich came off the bench to score 14 points and rally the Pacers for a 114-102 victory.

Stipanovich, who had 8 rebounds in 23 minutes, scored 5 of his points in a 4 1/2-minute period in the last quarter, during which the Bucks were scoreless and Indiana scored 12 points to break the game open.

Stipanovich scored 9 of the Pacers’ first 13 points in the final quarter as they wiped out a seven-point deficit and tied the score at 93-93.

With 4:57 remaining, the Pacers led, 101-100. The Bucks did not score again until Ricky Pierce made a jumper with 27 seconds left. By then, it was too late.

Philadelphia 112, Utah 105--Moses Malone spent more time at the free-throw line in this game at Philadelphia than the entire Utah team. Malone was 19 for 22 from the line, while the Jazz was 10 for 16.

As a result, even though Utah made seven more field goals than the 76ers, it lost. Malone finished with 37 points and 16 rebounds.

Adrian Dantley, the NBA’s leading scorer, usually shoots 11 or 12 free throws a game. The Utah star had only two free throws and 20 points.

New Jersey 122, Houston 112--Buck Williams had 26 points and 20 rebounds at East Rutherford, N.J., and was at his best in the third quarter, when the Nets stretched a 6-point lead to 15.

The Rockets, who are 14-0 at home, fell to 4-10 on the road.

Williams scored 11 points in the third quarter, when the Nets outscored the Rockets, 38-29. The Rockets were never closer than nine points in the fourth quarter.