NBA Roundup : Bird Has One More Point to Make After He Scores 43 in 122-116 Win

Larry Bird put the Lakers, and any other contenders for the Boston Celtics’ NBA title, on notice.

First, Bird scored a season-high 43 points Wednesday night in a 122-116 victory over Portland at Boston. Then he reminded everyone that the Celtics still are the champions.

He said Boston’s recent eight-game trip “really matured us as a team. It brought us together as a club, and we feel we’re still the team to beat.”

Kevin McHale added 29 points in Boston’s fifth straight victory, which snapped Portland’s five-game winning streak.

The Celtics extended their home winning streak to 14 games. Portland was the only team to beat the Celtics at home last season.

Bird hit 17 of 30 shots and 8 of 9 free throws. He also had 10 rebounds, 8 assists, 2 steals and a blocked shot.

Dennis Johnson scored 14 of his 18 points in the fourth quarter, including 8 of Boston’s final 12. He hit 12 of 12 foul shots.

With the score tied, 90-90, early in the fourth quarter, Boston took the lead for good with a 6-0 run, which ended with a pair of free throws by Johnson with 9:22 left. The Trail Blazers never caught up.

Steve Johnson scored 34 points for Portland.

Dallas 108, Sacramento 101--Rolando Blackman scored 35 points, including two clinching free throws with 20 seconds left, as the Mavericks downed the Kings at Dallas.

Mark Aguirre, who scored 26 points for Dallas, added two free throws with three seconds left.

The Kings went ahead, 93-91, on a jumper by Eddie Johnson, who had 21 points, with 5:16 remaining. But Brad Davis hit two three-point baskets to ignite a 9-2 run that gave Dallas a 100-95 lead with 2:44 left.

Reggie Theus had 28 points and 15 rebounds for the Kings.

Detroit 106, Cleveland 105--Adrian Dantley scored 26 points, and Isiah Thomas sank a free throw with six seconds left to lift the Pistons to victory over the Cavaliers at Pontiac, Mich.

The Pistons won their fifth straight game and increased their Central Division lead to three games. The Cavaliers lost their 15th consecutive road game.

A layup by Cleveland’s John Bagley tied the score, 105-105, with eight seconds remaining, but he fouled Thomas two seconds later.

Thomas made only one of two free throws, but Cleveland rookie Ron Harper, who scored 33 points, missed an 18-footer at the buzzer.