NBA Roundup : Nets Getting Along Fine Without Richardson

The New Jersey Nets have found they can get along rather well without Micheal Ray Richardson, their leading scorer and top playmaker.

Richardson once again is undergoing treatment for a drug problem. The star guard disappeared for four days after attending a club Christmas party.

Fortunately for the Nets, they have a surplus of backcourt players.

One of them, Darwin Cook, played a key role Wednesday night at East Rutherford, N.J., as the Nets defeated the ailing Milwaukee Bucks, 106-99. The victory gave the Nets a 5-1 record since Richardson was suspended.

Cook, getting a chance to start, scored 20 points and had 11 assists. He also made a free throw with two minutes left to end a spirited Buck rally and end Milwaukee’s seven-game winning streak.

With a 23-14 record, the Nets, in their first season under former Laker assistant Dave Wohl, are six games ahead of their pace of last season, when they finished 42-40.

The Bucks were without Coach Don Nelson, who has the flu. Jeff Lamp also has the flu; Kenny Fields and Paul Mokeski are out with knee injuries, and guard Craig Hodges has a dislocated finger. Only nine players suited up for the game.

“We will welcome Sugar (Richardson) back when he is well,” Wohl said, “but we are probably as deep at guard as any team in the league. This has been an opportunity for Darwin and Kelvin (Ransey) to show what they can do.”

Cook is a 6-3 veteran from Los Angeles who starred at Crenshaw High School, then went to the University of Portland. This is his sixth season with the Nets. He has been a No. 3 guard most of his pro career.

“Whether Sugar is here or not, I’ve got to go out and play the best I can,” Cook said. “Against the Bucks, you have to take the ball right to them.”

Cook, playing all but three minutes, made 8 of 15 shots while directing the offense and grabbed 5 rebounds.

Sidney Moncrief led the Bucks, who top the Central Division by 4 1/2 games, with 25 points. But forward Terry Cummings had only 17, making just 7 of 21 shots.

Sacramento 88, Indiana 87--For almost three quarters at Indianapolis, the Pacers played brilliantly. An 81-foot three-point shot by Herb Williams at the halftime buzzer gave them a 10-point lead. They doubled that (77-57) late in the third period.

Suddenly, the Pacers couldn’t even make a dunk. In the last 14 minutes, they scored only 10 points.

Mike Woodson led the Kings’ rally and finished with 25 points. But it was three consecutive baskets in the last two minutes by Eddie Johnson that clinched the victory.

Boston 126, Cleveland 95--All the ingredients were there for a Celtic blowout. They were coming off a surprise loss Tuesday night, they were playing at home and they were playing the Cavaliers.

Led by Larry Bird with 25 points, the Celtics breezed past the Cavaliers. The win gave them a 15-1 record at home and 20 home-court victories in a row over the Cavaliers. The last time Cleveland won at Boston Garden was Oct. 13, 1978.

The Cavaliers led, 10-8, but Kevin McHale scored seven points in a 17-3 Boston spurt that ended any doubt about the outcome.

Phoenix 109, Washington 97--The Suns have come a long way since opening the season with nine straight losses. In this game at Phoenix, Larry Nance scored 29 points and had 13 rebounds to give the Suns a 12-11 record in their last 23 games.

Alvan Adams also was a factor in the Suns’ victory. He had 16 points, 11 rebounds and 8 assists.