Minus Moncrief, Bucks Defeat Clippers

The hot Milwaukee Bucks, playing without a flu-stricken Sidney Moncrief, used the team concept and rolled past the Clippers, 114-99, Tuesday night for their ninth consecutive National Basketball Assn. victory.

Eight Bucks scored in double figures, including forward Terry Cummings with 16 points and Paul Pressey with 10 points and a career-high 16 assists.

“The whole concept is team, team play,” Cummings said. “No matter how things are going, we always get back to it.”

Cummings said the Bucks, with the third-best record in the league at 41-18, were making their playoff drive.

“We know it’s time,” he said. “We don’t have time to waste.”

Clipper Coach Don Chaney said that with the Bucks, “You can’t zero in on one man. . . . Nellie (Milwaukee Coach Don Nelson) has those guys programmed to play the game, take the open shot and give it up when you don’t have it.”

Milwaukee led, 55-49, at the half, but the Bucks outscored the Clippers, 28-22, in the third quarter to take a 83-71 lead.

The Clippers pulled to within five points twice in the third period, the latest at 68-63 with 5:15 left. But the Bucks went on a 15-6 run to nullify the Clipper rally.

Craig Hodges, who finished with 14 points, scored six points during the Buck streak.

Also scoring in double figures for the Bucks were Randy Breuer with 15 points, Kenny Fields with 14, Alton Lister with 13, Mike Glenn with 12 and Ricky Pierce with 10.

The Clippers were led by Norm Nixon with 22 points.

With the loss, the Clippers fell to 22-35 and remained in fourth place in the Pacific Division. They play at Detroit tonight.