NBA Roundup : Gilmore Leads San Antonio to 116-112 Victory Over Denver

In preseason predictions it was said the San Antonio Spurs would not be a contender in the Midwest Division. In fact, most experts thought the Spurs would have trouble making the playoffs.

San Antonio fans were miffed at the team and Coach Cotton Fitzsimmons when their idol, George Gervin, was traded to the Chicago Bulls.

However, the fans have long since forgiven Fitzsimmons, and the experts are beginning to realize they made a mistake.

The Spurs are very much in contention for the division title.

An awesome display by veteran center Artis Gilmore sparked the Spurs to a 116-112 victory over Denver Saturday night at San Antonio to move the Spurs into second place just one game behind Houston.

In the first half, which wound up with the Nuggets holding a 61-57 lead, Gilmore was brilliant. He had 15 points, 9 rebounds, 4 blocked shots and 3 assists.

Then, in the third quarter, he scored 13 points, blocked another shot and had three rebounds as the Spurs turned the game around, taking a 93-83 lead. The Nuggets, despite a 27-point performance by Alex English, never could catch up.

Gilmore had season highs of 33 points and 17 rebounds. But, it has been the improvement of Alvin Robertson that has been the big difference this season in the Spurs.

Robertson, a first-round draft choice from Arkansas, was a disappointment last season as a rookie and the Spurs were a .500 team.

The departure of Gervin was the signal for Robertson to blossom. He triggers the defense by leading the league in steals and is averaging 16.6 points per game.

The Spurs, who recently beat the Lakers, have a 19-12 record. Last season, when they were knocked out in the first round of the playoffs by Denver, they did not win No. 19 until they had already lost 20 games.

In this game Robertson had a triple double. He had 14 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists. It was the second win in a row for the Spurs without injured playmaker Johnny Moore. His sub, Wes Matthews scored 17 points.

Boston 110, Utah 108--Last season the Celtics were winning big, even on the road. Only the Lakers had a bigger average winning margin.

But this season, though they have a 22-7 record, every game is a struggle.

In this game at Salt Lake City, Danny Ainge scored five of his 17 points in the last 97 seconds to give the Celtics a narrow victory.

The Jazz missed a chance to tie when Karl Malone’s jumper bounced off the rim with four seconds left, and Larry Bird grabbed the rebound.

Philadelphia 100, Phoenix 98--Julius Erving scored 25 points and had a key steal late in the game at Phoenix to help the 76ers win their sixth in a row.

With the 76ers leading, 97-96, Erving stole the ball from Mike Sanders and was fouled with 17 seconds left. He sank both free throws.

The Suns built a 32-18 lead and the 76ers’ center Moses Malone was ejected for disputing a call in the second quarter. But in the second half, Erving took charge.

Washington 98, New Jersey 93--The Nets were riding high until Micheal Ray Richardson pulled another disappearing act. In this game at East Rutherford, N.J., without their playmaker, the Nets’ five-game winning streak was erased.

Freeman Williams, out of the league since 1982, but signed a few days ago by the Bullets, scored 17 points, including two free throws with 16 seconds left to give the Bullets a 96-93 lead.

Eight seconds later, Kelvin Ransey just missed on a three-point shot that would have tied the game.

The Bullets were without Gus Williams, who has the flu and Jeff Ruland, who has a broken foot.

Milwaukee 114, Cleveland 112--Sidney Moncrief, despite a badly bruised knee, played 49 minutes and scored 35 points, but it was a tipin at the buzzer in overtime that won for the Bucks.

It was a wild game in which Paul Pressey of the Bucks and Lonnie Shelton of the Cavaliers were ejected for fighting in the first quarter. A few minutes later, Cleveland Coach George Karl was thrown out for arguing a call.

John Bagley of the Cavaliers sent the game into overtime by sinking two free throws with 21 seconds left in regulation.

The Cavaliers’ home record is 6-10.

Houston 118, Portland 108--Akeem Olajuwon had 30 points and Ralph Sampson had 20 points and 16 rebounds to help the Rockets improve their home record to 16-0. John Lucas had three steals in the last five minutes to keep the Rockets the only unbeaten team at home.

Atlanta 100, New York 80--Patrick Ewing missed his second game in a row because of a knee injury and the Knicks’ four-game winning streak ended at New York. Dominique Wilkins scored 36 points. He has scored 120 in the last three games.

Chicago 108, Indiana 104--Quintin Dailey came off the bench to score 13 points in the last quarter at Chicago to lead the Bulls to victory.