NBA Roundup : Bird Gets 47 and Winning Basket in Overtime

For almost half of this season, fans of Larry Bird fretted over the physical problems of the Boston Celtics’ star.

He had an ailing elbow and a back problem. His shooting was terrible--for him--and the rest of his game suffered, too.

If there was any doubt when he put on his demonstration of three-point shooting at the All-Star break, he has wiped that out in the last two games.

Friday night at Portland, in his finest performance of the season, the remarkable 6-9 forward sank a 10-foot jumper with three seconds left in overtime to give the Celtics a 120-119 victory over the Trail Blazers.

As part of a night on which he scored 47 points, had 14 rebounds and 11 assists, Bird also sank a 15-foot jumper with six seconds left in regulation to send the game into overtime.

Thursday night at Seattle, Bird also had a triple double with 31 points, 15 rebounds and 11 assists in another hard-fought game, a 107-98 victory over the SuperSonics.

With the Celtics playing without Kevin McHale, who has an Achilles’ tendon injury, Bird has taken it upon himself to take up the slack.

He was easily the dominant performer Friday night in a game that was tied 22 times.

Bird, who has been shooting about 47%, was 21 of 34 in this game, including three three-point bombs.

Although the Celtics were playing their third road game in four nights, Bird saw 49 minutes of action.

He has reached his peak just in time for the Celtics’ final regular-season meeting with the Lakers Sunday afternoon at the Forum.

After Bird’s jumper in overtime gave the Celtics a 120-119 lead, the Blazers, the only team to beat the Celtics at Boston this season, had one more chance. But Jerome Kersey’s driving layup rolled around the rim and came out at the final buzzer.

Indiana 104, Chicago 88--Herb Williams scored a career-high 39 points at Chicago as the Pacers ended an eight-game road losing streak.

The Pacers’ third win in 23 road games this season enabled them to climb out of the cellar in the Central Division, ahead of the Bulls.

The Bulls were playing for the first time since they learned that Michael Jordan, injured in the third game of the season, might not play the rest of the season. They didn’t seem to have their minds on the game.

The Bulls (17-36) have lost five in a row and 13 of their last 15. Only Golden State (17-37) has a worse record.

Williams made 17 of 26 shots and had 7 rebounds. Charles Oakley, with 17 points and 13 rebounds, led the Bulls.

Phoenix 112, Denver 95--Walter Davis scored 21 of his 25 points in the second half at Phoenix to lead the Suns to victory.

Alex English, who agreed to a four-year, $6.4-million contract just before the game, scored 29 points to lead the Nuggets.

The Nuggets were without center Wayne Cooper, who has a torn calf muscle.

Detroit 119, Dallas 110--Shooting 70% in the first three quarters at Pontiac, Mich., the Pistons built a 99-76 lead. They became careless in the last 12 minutes but were still able to turn back the Mavericks.