NBA Roundup : Ehlo’s Career-High 26 Leads Cavaliers

As soon as Craig Ehlo quit worrying about the 11th day, he became an important member of the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Ehlo, a 6-6 guard who was mostly a bench-warmer in three seasons at Houston, was signed to one of those 10-day contracts in the middle of this month after the Cavaliers lost Mark Price with an appendectomy.

When playmaker John Bagley suffered a severely sprained ankle last week, the Cavaliers signed the former Washington State star to a contract for the rest of the season.

In back-to-back starts the unheralded Ehlo has set career scoring records.

The 26 points Ehlo scored Thursday night at Richfield, Ohio and an unbelievable cold spell by Atlanta in the third quarter enabled the Cavaliers to beat the Hawks, 109-91.

Ehlo, who is playing the point guard, had 18 points in a tough loss at Philadelphia Wednesday night. In this win, he had six rebounds and six assists in 45 minutes.

The Hawks, after falling behind, 52-45, at halftime, fell apart in the third. They went five minutes without a point, made two quick baskets, then went four more minutes without a point. They were outscored, 29-11, in the period and the Cavaliers, with a 25-point lead, coasted to their third win in 11 games.

“Anybody on a 10-day contract has to worry about the 11th day,” Ehlo, who had the 10,569 fans chanting his name, said. “Now, I can relax and help this team.

“That was a thrill to hear the chant. If they want enthusiasm, scratching, fighting or getting a little blood on you, I’ll try to do it.”

The day after he signed his first contract with the Cavaliers, the Rockets, who dropped him before the season started, lost Mitch Wiggins and Lewis Lloyd because they tested positive to cocaine. Ehlo was already committed.

Ehlo said he knew two years ago that Wiggins and Lloyd were on cocaine. He said Lloyd would perspire freely even when at rest and Wiggins’ play was inconsistent.

Detroit 112, Washington 101--Adrian Dantley made his first seven shots at Pontiac, Mich., to get the Pistons off to a fast start and they went on to end a three-game losing streak.

Dantley had 25 points and Bill Laimbeer, who took over when Dantley cooled off, had 24 points and 17 rebounds.

Milwaukee 99, Houston 93--The Bucks, who expect their two best players, Sidney Moncrief and Paul Pressey to return after the All-Star break, are doing pretty well without them.

Jack Sikma scored 20 of his season-high 22 points in the second half at Houston and the Bucks moved within one game of first place in the Central Division. Sikma had 12 rebounds.

John Lucas made a layup and two free throws in the last 25 seconds to clinch the victory.

Dallas 132, Denver 102--Mark Aguirre scored 18 of his 36 points in the first half at Denver to help the Mavericks build an overwhelming, 73-48 lead.

Lafayette Lever, left off the All-Star team, had 24 points, 14 rebounds and 10 assists for his third triple-double in a row for Denver.

Utah 120, Portland 114--Thurl Bailey scored 13 of his 19 points in the fourth quarter at Salt Lake City to assure Coach Frank Layden his 200th NBA victory.