NBA Roundup : After Defeating Celtics, 76ers Can’t Top Pistons

The schedule-maker has made life a little easier for the Detroit Pistons. Twice already this season, the Pistons have met a team the night after that team has beaten the NBA champion Boston Celtics.

A week ago, the Pistons were waiting at home to ambush the Lakers after Los Angeles had ended the Celtics’ string of 48 consecutive victories at Boston Garden.

On Saturday night, the Pistons arrived in Philadelphia while the 76ers were still celebrating Friday night’s win over Boston.

Once again, the Pistons took advantage of the situation. Led by Vinnie Johnson, who was returning after missing two games because of an injury, the Pistons rallied for a 98-88 victory, their fifth in a row and 11th in their last 13 games.

The Pistons trailed, 71-66, after three quarters, but Johnson scored 14 of his 18 points in the last quarter. He scored six of them in a 12-0 run to open the quarter.

Except for a win over San Antonio, the Pistons have built their winning streak against some powerful teams. They began by beating the Lakers and the Atlanta Hawks, the teams with the best records in the league. Then, they put a halt to the seven-game winning streak of the Utah Jazz.

In this game, they beat a team that is only two games behind the Celtics in the Atlantic Division.

Although he missed two games after he bruised a shoulder in a fight with Atlanta’s Tree Rollins, Johnson, an eight-year veteran, has been a key in the Pistons’ recovery from a 3-6 start.

Coach Chuck Daly has an explanation for Johnson’s consistently good play.

“Simple,” Daly said. “It’s contract season.

“In other seasons, he’d have a good game and then follow it up with a 4-for-15 night. He can become a free agent and he’s showing everyone just how well he can play.”

Milwaukee 120, Boston 100--Paul Pressey has often forced Larry Bird into an off night by maintaining constant pressure on the Celtics’ superstar.

But, in this game at Milwaukee, Pressey did more than hold Bird to 12 points (4 for 15 from the field), he was also the offensive spark in the Bucks’ fourth win in a row. Pressey scored 25 points, sinking 11 of his 14 field goal attempts.

The Celtics, in losing for the second night in a row, were without guard Danny Ainge, who pulled a groin muscle Friday night. They were also without Coach K.C. Jones and his assistant, Chris Ford, for the last seven minutes. Both were ejected for arguing.

Utah 91, Chicago 89--Karl Malone and Mark Eaton took over the starring roles at Chicago as the Jazz streaked to its ninth win in its last 10 games.

Malone made a 15-foot jumper with 21 seconds left, and Eaton blocked Michael Jordan’s attempt at tying the game. It was Eaton’s ninth block of the game to go with 16 points and 13 rebounds.

Although he almost pulled out another for the Bulls, Jordan was held to 27 points, only the second time in the last 14 games he has scored fewer than 40 points.

Friday night, the Jazz won a double overtime game against Cleveland. It was Utah’s fourth road game in five nights, but it was the Bulls who tired.

Atlanta 111, San Antonio 96--Dominique Wilkins, slowly recovering from the effects of flu, scored 28 points, and sharpshooting Randy Wittman had 27 at Atlanta as the Hawks ended a two-game losing streak.

Wittman made 12 of 17 shots, Wilkins only 10 of 21.

“We are not in sync right now,” Coach Mike Fratello of the Hawks said. “We have been slow to recover from the flu, which struck the entire team. We didn’t practice all week.”

Indiana 123, New York 99--Rookie Chuck Person had a triple-double at New York as the Pacers buried the Knicks. Person had 34 points (16 for 24 from the field), 12 rebounds and 10 assists.

With a 5-21 record, the Knicks have the worst record in the Eastern Conference.

Denver 128, Golden State 112--Bill Hanzlik scored 6 of his 26 points in a 13-0 third-quarter spurt at Denver that broke open a close battle.

The Warriors had closed to 77-73 when the Nuggets put on their winning rally.

The Nuggets ended the Warriors’ three-game road winning streak.

Sacramento 122, Phoenix 114--Eddie Johnson hit two consecutive long jumpers to thwart a comeback by the injury-depleted Suns at Sacramento. The two baskets came after Phoenix cut the lead to 106-103.

The Suns were without Larry Nance and James Edwards.