NBA Roundup : ‘Old’ Malone Again Sinks the 76ers, 106-105

Moses Malone is at a point in his career where he has to select his spots. Although he is not yet 32, the hard-working center has been playing about 100 pro basketball games a year since he was 19.

He is paying the penalty for all the time he has put into making himself a star. After every game, most of his body is immersed in ice to soothe the pain. His biggest problem is trying to play well on successive nights.

One thing is certain. Malone will always be ready to play when the Washington Bullets face the Philadelphia 76ers. When he was traded by the 76ers last June, they said he was an “old 31.”

The 76ers are learning he is not too old to beat them.

Malone sank two free throws with four seconds remaining Saturday night at Landover, Md., to give the Bullets a 106-105 victory over his injury-riddled former teammates. Malone is 3-0 against the 76ers this season.

Malone, who finished with 27 points, made two free throws with 24 seconds left, then John Williams intercepted a 76er pass and scored to give the Bullets a 104-103 edge. Charles Barkley, who had 28 points, 17 rebounds and 8 assists, then made a jumper and the 76ers were back on top.

But with time running out, Malone missed a shot, bulled in to get the rebound and was fouled by Roy Hinson.

The 76ers had the minimum eight players dressed. Missing were Julius Erving, Cliff Robinson and Andrew Toney. Erving and Robinson have ankle injuries. Toney, who has been out most of the last 18 months with a foot injury, recently returned and does not play back-to-back games.

It may not have made any difference. Moses refuses to lose to his old team. In the three games, he has shot poorly (32 of 75), but he has scored 94 points and pulled down 49 rebounds.

“I enjoy playing in Washington,” Malone said. “But that doesn’t mean I don’t miss Philadelphia. My wife and kids love it here. It’s cleaner, less snow, less holes in the road. A better living city. And the fans really know the game.

“Soon as you turn 30, people start saying you can’t play no more. My mind is strong enough to have three or more good years.”

Malone, Terry Catledge and a first-round draft choice were sent to the Bullets for Jeff Ruland, who has been a total loss because of injuries, and Robinson.

The Bullets failed to impress Barkley. “They should have been embarrassed that we hung in there with just eight players,” Barkley snapped. “I’m sick and tired hearing about what a bad trade that was for us. They’re still a mediocre .500 club and we’re three games ahead of them.”

Detroit 114, New York 113--Patrick Ewing continues to play well, just well enough for the Knicks to lose.

In this game at New York, Ewing had 37 points and 9 rebounds. He made a dunk to cut the Pistons’ lead to 114-112, then was fouled with 58 seconds to play. He had made 10 out of 11 free throws. But he missed the first, and the Knicks lost by a point.

The Knicks had the ball once again with 12 seconds left. Despite two full timeouts and a 20-second one, all they could set up was a desperate three-point try by Trent Tucker at the buzzer. It didn’t draw iron.

Adrian Dantley scored 23 of his 27 points in the second half and was largely responsible for putting the Pistons into a tie with Atlanta for first place in the Central Division.

The Pistons scored 70 points in the first half, but Dantley outscored his teammates, 23-21, in the last 24 minutes.

Cleveland 102, Indiana 100--Phil Hubbard did a good defensive job on rookie sensation Chuck Person at Richfield, Ohio, and Ron Harper’s layup with 27 seconds left clinched the third win in four games for the Cavaliers.

Hubbard kept Person from the ball. The top candidate for rookie honors was only 3 for 13. He missed a 22-footer with the score tied, 100-100, just before Harper’s layup.

In the last four games, opponents have averaged only 96 points against Cleveland.

Denver 142, Sacramento 113--As the Kings fell behind by 18 points in the second quarter on their way to an eighth consecutive loss on the road, it was just too much for Coach Phil Johnson. He angrily picked up two technicals and departed.

Alex English made the technicals as part of a 33-point performance in a game that was no contest after a quarter.

The coach and the game weren’t the only losses for the Kings. In the third quarter, both LaSalle Thompson and Othell Wilson limped off with sprained ankles.

English was 15 for 25 from the field and also had 8 assists. Lafayette Lever was 10 for 13, but he missed his fourth consecutive triple-double when he had only 8 rebounds to go with 22 points and 12 assists.

Seattle 118, Phoenix 112--Dale Ellis scored seven of his 24 points in overtime at Seattle to lead the SuperSonics to victory.

The Suns thought they had it won with a 102-99 lead and time running out. But, with one second remaining in regulation, Danny Young put up a three-pointer and it went in.