NBA Roundup : Before Losing Game, Knicks Lose Ewing

For more than a year, the New York Knicks’ luck has been bad--with one exception--and injuries have turned a team that could be a legitimate contender into a basket case.

The one stroke of good fortune was in the draft lottery, when the Knicks drew No. 1 and, naturally, chose Patrick Ewing.

The Knicks, who are almost afraid to send players out on the floor, learned shortly before Friday night’s game at Boston that Ewing may be out for the rest of the season. A knee problem that sidelined him for seven games last month, has flared up again. With the Knicks almost eliminated from a shot at the playoffs, it’s unlikely any more chances will be taken with the 7-foot center’s knees this season.

It was nearly a year ago that Bernard King, leading the NBA in scoring with a 32.9-point average, was knocked out with a knee injury. He has also missed all of this season.

Even before King was hurt, the Knicks lost centers Bill Cartwright and Marvin Webster for the 1984-85 season. Webster retired because of his injuries. Cartwright tried to come back this season, played two games and broke another bone in his foot.

There have been other casualties, too. But until Ewing started hobbling around, the Knicks were making a determined bid for the playoffs.

The crippled Knicks lost, as expected, 115-108, to the Celtics, but in the middle of the second period, they led by 11. The Celtics have won eight in a row and have a 50-11 record.

Bill Walton, who had 15 points and 12 rebounds in 22 minutes, keyed a 24-7 spurt early in the second half that broke the game open.

With 20 games remaining, the Knicks are 4 1/2 games behind Cleveland in the battle for the eighth playoff spot in the East.

A front line of Bob Thornton, Louis Orr and James Bailey isn’t going to get the Knicks closer.

“My knee is killing me,” Ewing told the New York Post. “I’ve had jumper knees before, but this feels like something different. I think I’m going to have to sit out a few weeks.”

Atlanta 112, Chicago 108--Dominique Wilkins, who finished with 42 points at Chicago, rallied the Hawks from a 17-point third-quarter deficit. Kevin Willis also was prominent in the rally. He grabbed a rebound and dunked it with 36 seconds left to give the Hawks a four-point lead and wound up with 19 points and 21 rebounds.

Orlando Woolridge, after apologizing to his Chicago teammates for missing two games, came off the bench to play just eight minutes. He blamed injuries, despondency over the Bulls’ poor record and contract problems for his absence.

Milwaukee 125, Philadelphia 95--In this game at Milwaukee, both teams were missing an injured star. Charles Barkley was out of the 76ers’ lineup, and Sidney Moncrief of the Bucks missed his second game in a row.

With Ricky Pierce, the Bucks had a better replacement. Pierce scored 9 of his 19 points in a 35-16 third quarter that ended the 76er hopes.

Bob McAdoo came off the bench to score 20 for Philadelphia, which has lost three in a row.

Utah 105, Phoenix 103--Adrian Dantley scored 19 of his 36 points in the fourth quarter at Phoenix to help the Jazz overcome a 10-point deficit.

Utah trailed, 87-77, with 11 minutes left, then took the lead for good, 90-89, on a Dantley layup with 7:40 left.

In the three-way battle for the scoring title, English is averaging 29.4 points, Wilkins 29.3 and Dantley 29.0.

Denver 134, Indiana 117--Alex English scored 34 points in the first three quarters at Denver and then retired for the night.

Detroit 104, New Jersey 102--Kelly Tripucka scored 15 of his 34 points in the fourth quarter at East Rutherford, N.J., to lead the Pistons.