NBA Roundup : Richardson Plays Little; Nets Lose

His teammates apparently have forgiven Micheal Ray Richardson for his latest transgression, but New Jersey Coach Dave Wohl has not.

Richardson rejoined the Nets before Thursday night’s game at Richfield, Ohio, against the Cleveland Cavaliers after his one-game suspension for again missing practice.

Although the 6-5 guard is the team’s leading scorer and playmaker, Wohl kept Richardson on the bench until after the Cavaliers had built a huge lead on their way to a 135-117 victory.

The Cavaliers moved in front early and led, 103-77, before Richardson, now the team’s fourth guard, went into the game. He wound up with 9 points in 13 minutes.

“He doesn’t deserve to start,” the angry Wohl told the Associated Press. “He’s a 30-year-old man chronologically, but a 15-year-old in terms of responsibility.

“Until he can become an adult, he has a long road ahead of him.

“He has let the team down again. He owes these 11 guys. He’s abdicated his responsibility three times.”

Richardson blamed the flu for his absence, but after failing to show up for a doctor’s appointment, he was given a drug test and passed it

Teammate Buck Williams said Richardson was having domestic problems.

“I guarantee this thing is not drug-related,” Williams said. “I feel for Sugar.”

World B. Free led the Cavaliers to their highest output of the season, scoring 28 points. Williams, averaging 15.7 points a game, scored only 2 for the Nets.

Boston 107, Seattle 98--Larry Bird had a triple double at Seattle to lead the Celtics to their 14th win in the last 15 games.

Bird scored 31 points, grabbed 15 rebounds and made 11 assists. Despite Bird’s performance, the Sonics stayed close most of the night but scored only five points in the final 4 1/2 minutes.

San Antonio 119, Houston 115--Artis Gilmore scored 10 of his 25 points in the fourth quarter at San Antonio to power the Spurs to victory.

Although the Rockets lead the Midwest Division by 4 1/2 games, they are only 8-15 on the road.

Akeem Olajuwon, despite getting into foul trouble, had 36 points for the Rockets. The other big man, Ralph Sampson, failed to score until the game was 30 minutes old and finished with 14 points, including a three-point shot.

Philadelphia 95, New York 92--The injury-riddled Knicks built a 13-point first-half lead at New York before the 76ers’ superior height finally wore them down.

In the absence of New York’s good big men, including Patrick Ewing, Charles Barkley (29 points, 17 rebounds) and Moses Malone (23 and 13) pulled it out for the 76ers.

Atlanta 123, Sacramento 114--Dominique Wilkins scored 43 points at Sacramento as the Hawks fought back from a 15-point second-quarter deficit.

Wilkins made 15 of 33 shots and 12 of 16 free throws.

Milwaukee 113, Utah 106--Paul Pressey scored 24 points and Terry Cummings 21 at Milwaukee as the Bucks won again without Sidney Moncrief, who has missed two games because of a knee injury.

Golden State 109, Washington 105--Eric Floyd scored on a driving layup with 11 seconds remaining at Oakland to give the Warriors their second win in a row. After Leon Wood of the Bullets threw up an air ball trying for a three-point basket, Floyd grabbed the ball, was fouled and made two free throws.