NBA Roundup : Pistons Outlast Warriors, 121-106

With the key members of his bench missing, Coach Chuck Daly told his Detroit Pistons starters to be ready to go the distance.

They were ready Friday night at Pontiac, Mich., and forwards Adrian Dantley and Sidney Green led the sizzling Pistons to a 121-106 victory over the Golden State Warriors. It was the Warriors who tired down the stretch.

Vinnie Johnson and rookie Dennis Rodman had been brilliant coming off the bench to help the Pistons win 11 of their previous 14 games. But Johnson, the No. 3 scorer on the team, has the flu and Rodman has a leg infection.

Dantley, who has been complaining about lack of playing time, played 38 minutes and had 26 points.

The real hero, though, was Green. The former Nevada Las Vegas star was obtained from the Chicago Bulls and was given the power forward job. He had been a disappointment, scoring only 6.2 points per game and was shooting only 37.5% from the field.

He played only 31 minutes in this one but had 20 points and a career-high 18 rebounds. Green was 8 for 14 from the field.

Starting guards Isiah Thomas and Joe Dumars stayed in until the Pistons pulled away in the final period. Thomas had 20 points and 15 assists and Dumars had 20 points.

“It was our team that tired,” Coach George Karl of the Warriors said. “This game was won by running and energy. It seemed we were a little heavy-legged.”

Cleveland 121, New Jersey 112--Net Coach Dave Wohl finds it hard to believe the three rookie starters of the Cavaliers are really rookies.

Ron Harper had 25 points, and center Brad Daugherty had 15 points and 8 rebounds to lead the Cavaliers at Richfield, Ohio. The third starter, John Williams had 13 points and 9 rebounds.

“Every time we started a move,” Wohl said, “one of those kids came through with a big play. They played with composure.”

Boston 122, Phoenix 112--Larry Bird sank three three-pointers and had 15 points in the first quarter at Phoenix, and the Celtics were never in danger.

Kevin McHale took over the scoring thereafter. McHale, hitting 15 of 18 shots, had 32 points as the Celtics ended a two-game losing streak.

The Suns, losing for the fourth time in the last five games, fell 17 points behind early in the second quarter.

Ed Pinckney led the Suns with 19 points.

Dallas 123, Denver 121--Al Wood scored on a rebound with just two seconds left to end the Mavericks’ eight-game losing streak at Denver.

Two free throws by Alex English, who had 36 points, gave the Nuggets a 121-120 lead, but Wood turned a Rolando Blackman miss into a three-point play when he was fouled.