NBA Roundup : Robertson Does It All as San Antonio Defeats Phoenix

Triple doubles--double figures in points, rebounds and assists--are fairly common place in pro basketball--but San Antonio guard Alvin Robertson became the second player in NBA history to post double figures in four categories in a 120-114 win over the Phoenix Suns Tuesday night at San Antonio.

Robertson had 20 points, 10 assists, 10 steals and 11 rebounds and is the first to reach double figures in those four statistical categories.

Robertson went to the wire to get his quadruple double. With 35 seconds remaining, he fed Artis Gilmore for a layup and his 10th assist. Robertson scored 10 points in the final period.

Nate Thurmond, who had 22 points, 14 rebounds, 13 assists and 12 blocked shots on opening night of the 1974-75 season for the Chicago Bulls, accomplished the only other known quadruple double in the NBA.

“I feel happy and excited about the stats, but winning the game is the most important thing,” Robertson said. “A win is the ultimate satisfaction I can get. We are still allowing teams to come back and we have to learn to bury them at home.”

Robertson had two assists in the closing minutes to save the game. The first--to Mike Mitchell--allowed the Spurs to go ahead 114-111.

Mitchell led all scorers with 27 points, including 13 in the first quarter. Walter Davis paced Phoenix with 22 points.

Denver 101, Washington 90--NBA scoring leader Alex English, who signed a multi-year contract earlier in the day, celebrated by scoring 38 points as the Nuggets won their sixth straight game at home.

No terms were announced, but the Rocky Mountain News and Denver Post reported that the contract was for four years and $6.5 million. He will reportedly earn $1.35 million next season, $1.4 million in 1987-88 and $1.65 million in 1988-89.

The fourth year of the contract is an option, the newspapers said. English would receive $2 million the final season if the Nuggets pick up the option and $500,000 if they do not.

Denver center Wayne Cooper, listed as a doubtful performer before the game with an injured calf muscle, scored 11 of his 17 points in the first quarter to get Denver off to a 31-21 lead.

Cliff Robinson led the losers with 17 points, and rookie Manute Bol had 8 blocked shots.

Cleveland 111, New York 105-- Roy Hinson scored 21 of his game-high 34 points in the second half and John Bagley added 20 at Madison Square Garden as the Cavaliers handed the Knicks their seventh straight loss.

Cleveland posted its fifth straight victory over New York and opened a 4 1/2-game lead over the Knicks for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Division.

Sacramento 115, Houston 105--Reggie Theus scored 18 points in a third-quarter rally that lifed Kings past the Rockets at Sacramento. Theus’ third-quarter effort accounted for all but four of his 22 points for the Kings, who outscored the Rockets, 40-31, in the third period for an 88-79 advantage.