NBA Roundup : Gervin, Dailey Help Bulldoze Rockets, 132-122

Saturday’s game at Chicago was an opportunity for the Houston Rockets to show a national television audience just how far they have progressed in the second season of the Twin Towers--Ralph Sampson and Akeem Olajuwon.

It was a chance to show the viewers why they had the third-best record in the NBA as well as why they were ready to challenge the two major forces, the Lakers and Boston Celtics, for pro basketball supremacy.

The Rockets blew their opportunity as they were upstaged by a hustling group of misfits, the Chicago Bulls.

George Gervin, the aging sharpshooter, put the Bulls in front, and the troubled but talented Quintin Dailey kept them there with a clutch performance. Throughout, a husky rookie named Charles Oakley outplayed the Twin Towers.

As a result, the Bulls, playing without the heart of their club, Michael Jordan and Orlando Woolridge, scored a 132-122 victory, ending the Rockets’ five-game winning streak.

The Bulls had lost three in a row and eight of their previous nine, but they outhustled the Rockets, shot as well as the Rockets did and beat them on the boards.

Throughout, the Rockets, runaway leaders of the Midwest Division, acted as if they weren’t too interested but could take the Bulls whenever they wanted.

They forged ahead, 94-88, with 2:36 left in the third quarter. It was here that Gervin reverted to his old form and scored 7 of his 35 points in a 9-0 spurt that put the Bulls ahead to stay.

Dailey, who finished with 17 points, took charge with nine minutes left and Chicago ahead, precariously, 104-100. The first two times down the floor, he penetrated, then passed off to Dave Corzine for easy jumpers. The next five times, Dailey scored--hitting four field goals and one of two free throws. He wrecked whatever hopes the Rockets had of pulling it out.

Oakley, a 6-8, 230-pound rookie from Virginia Union, was the ninth player selected in the draft last June. Cleveland picked him, but the Bulls gave up the rights to Keith Lee for the rights to Oakley.

He’s proving to be a diamond in the rough, playing 38 minutes off the bench and getting career highs in rebounds (17) and points (19). He made 8 of 12 shots from the field, outmuscling the Twin Towers for several of them.

Denver 116, Milwaukee 113--Alex English scored 35 points at Denver to help the Nuggets wear down the travel-weary Bucks.

It was the Bucks’ seventh road game since Jan. 20. They jumped out in front, 28-19, but when Denver Coach Doug Moe inserted speed in his lineup, the Bucks slowly faded away.

English made 15 of 27 shots and had 5 rebounds and 4 assists.

Phoenix 112, San Antonio 111--Walter Davis scored 28 points for the Suns at San Antonio, but they managed to pull an upset only because the Spurs’ Mike Mitchell missed a 10-foot jumper at the buzzer.

Mitchell scored 30 points, 18 of them in the first half when the Spurs built a 70-60 lead. The Spurs scored only 41 points in the last 24 minutes.

Detroit 116, Washington 101--Heavy snowfall caused the Bullets to spend the day traveling, and they weren’t ready for the start of the game at Pontiac, Mich.

The Bullets missed their first seven shots, and the Pistons, who have won 8 of their last 11, jumped to a 10-0 lead and were never headed.

The Bullets made two different flights to Detroit. The first one couldn’t land and returned to Washington.

New Jersey 108, Atlanta 100--Buck Williams scored 20 points and grabbed 14 rebounds at East Rutherford, N.J., to help the Nets ruin the start of a nine-game trip for the Hawks.

Although the Hawks were without injured guard Glenn Rivers, they made a battle of it all the way. But they were beaten because Dominique Wilkins, after scoring 25 points in the first half, lost his shooting touch and scored only four more points.

Golden State 125, Philadelphia 121--Purvis Short scored six of his 31 points in the last three minutes at Oakland, and the Warriors held off a desperate 76er rally to end their eight-game losing streak.

The Warriors led by 15 in the third quarter, but the 76ers, who have lost three in a row, rallied to cut the lead to two. Joe Barry Carroll scored four points in a row, and the Warriors hung on to win.