NBA Roundup : Hawks Put Clamps on Cavaliers

After Boston beat Atlanta Wednesday night, the Celtics’ star, Larry Bird, indicated that the Hawks would have to improve their defense to have a chance against the Celtics.

“We’re not worried about them,” Bird said. “We won’t be until they play better defense. We don’t worry about anyone unless they can play (good) defense.”

Either Bird was kidding, or basing his remarks on one game. The Hawks have generally played outstanding defense.

Thursday night, while improving their record to 8-2, the Hawks throttled the Cleveland Cavaliers’ attack and breezed to a 108-89 victory at Atlanta. It was the sixth time the Hawks had held the opposition to 100 or fewer points.

The Hawks have permitted their opponents an average of 100.1 points a game. Their defense is the second best in the NBA, trailing only Houston. On the other hand, the Celtics have given up 105.2 points a game.

The Hawks bounced back resolutely from their 111-107 loss to the Celtics. They dominated from the start, holding the Cavaliers to 21 points in each of the first two periods.

The Hawks broke it open in the middle of the second quarter. Although he shot poorly for the second game in a row (11 of 28), Dominique Wilkins scored 7 of his 27 points in a 12-0 spurt that gave Atlanta a commanding 62-35 lead.

Once again, the improving Kevin Willis was a big factor in the victory. The 7-foot third-year pro from Michigan State scored 18 points and had 20 rebounds to give the Hawks control of the boards.

The Hawks’ defense impressed Coach Len Wilkens of the Cavaliers.

“They are a good defensive team, overall probably one of the best defensive teams in the league,” Wilkens said. “At one point, we had four rookies out there. We are young and we will learn.”

Houston 104, Utah 90--The Rockets continue to play better without ailing 7-4 star Ralph Sampson. In the two games he played before suffering his second sprained ankle, the Rockets split.

But when Steve Harris came off the bench to score 14 points in 18 minutes to fire up the Rockets at Houston, it gave them a 5-2 record without Sampson.

Denver 142, Portland 128--The Nuggets scored an NBA-record 86 points in the first half at Denver, then cooled off to just 56 in the second half.

The Nuggets, playing without injured Bill Hanzlik, were led by Alex English with 33 points in 35 minutes and Lafayette Lever with 30 points in 38 minutes.

Hanzlik, averaging 23 points in his last five games, suffered whiplash in Tuesday night’s game.

Milwaukee 116, Seattle 105--Terry Cummings scored 32 points, and Ricky Pierce had 27 to lead the Bucks at Seattle.

Cummings scored 10 in the second quarter, when Milwaukee took control of the game, and had a game-high 13 rebounds.

Tom Chambers led the Sonics with 35 points, and Xavier McDaniel added 24.

Sacramento 92, Indiana 83--Eddie Johnson made two baskets and assisted on another during a 75-second stretch in the final period to help lead the Kings to victory at Sacramento.

Johnson’s spurt started seconds after Sacramento center LaSalle Thompson was ejected for his second technical foul, with 7:49 to go. Thompson was called for throwing an intentional elbow into the Pacers’ John Long.

Otis Thorpe scored a season-high 20 points and grabbed a season-high 17 rebounds to lead Sacramento.