NBA Roundup : Walton Returns as the Celtics Win

Bill Walton began his NBA season Wednesday night at Boston by playing less than 4 1/2 minutes, but for Celtic fans it brought thoughts of another title.

Walton, an important cog in the Celtics’ championship last spring, missed the first 61 games this season with an ankle injury. He entered the game against Phoenix with 2 1/2 minutes remaining in the first period and was given a two-minute standing ovation. He left for good before the two-minute mark of the second quarter.

Kevin McHale scored 10 of his 36 points in a 20-0 fourth quarter spurt that wiped out a six-point deficit and helped the Celtics get a 118-109 victory. It was the 65th win in the last 66 games at Boston Garden.

The Celtics led most of the way but fell behind and trailed, 96-90, with 8:36 left. Then McHale, who has been their best player this season, took charge.

McHale, the best shooter in the NBA the last six weeks, made 15 of 19 shots and had 14 rebounds.

Larry Bird, who missed two games with a back injury, also returned for the Celtics. He played 43 minutes and scored 23 points. But the big cheers were for Walton, who has spent most of his career injured.

“I’m ecstatic I had a chance to play,” Walton said. “I’ve thought it’s always been possible. I also knew there was a chance I’d never play again.

“The running has not been the hard part. Jumping is what’s difficult. The key requirement is to get my legs back again.”

Walton, who has had many problems with his feet, had arthroscopic surgery Dec. 17 on his right ankle. Last season, he missed only two games, then played brilliantly in the playoffs.

Before last season, he had played in only 378 league games since joining Portland in 1974.

Philadelphia 117, Chicago 108--Michael Jordan shook off the effects of a hip pointer to score 49 points in 44 minutes at Philadelphia, but it wasn’t enough to save the Bulls.

Charles Barkley had 31 points and 12 rebounds, and rookie David Wingate set a personal scoring record for the second game in a row with 28 points.

It may have been a costly win for the 76ers, riddled by injury all season. Center Tim McCormick, who has adequately replaced injured Jeff Ruland, injured his knee in the second quarter. The extent of the injury was not immediately known.

Jordan, 19 for 34 from the field, had 8 rebounds, 7 assists, 2 steals and 4 blocked shots.

Milwaukee 115, Washington 107--Sidney Moncrief, who missed 39 games this season because of injuries, is rounding into form.

The veteran guard played 34 minutes and scored 25 points at Landover, Md., and the Bucks ended the Bullets’ seven-game home winning streak.

It was only the second time since coming off the disabled list Feb. 14 that Moncrief has been on the floor in the late going when a game was still up for grabs.

The Bullets were without Moses Malone, who has a severe stiff neck.

Detroit 107, Indiana 98--Isiah Thomas had 34 points, 11 assists and 9 rebounds at Indianapolis, and the Pistons beat the Pacers for the first time after losing three in a row.

The Pistons, who didn’t take charge until the middle of the last quarter, shot 51.2%; the Pacers shot 40.9%.

Dallas 130, Seattle 117--Mark Aguirre scored 12 of his 26 points in a club-record 46-point first quarter at Dallas that enabled the Mavericks to coast to an easy victory.

Aguirre appeared to be over a strained knee that hampered him in recent games. The SuperSonics, who won a double overtime game Tuesday night at Houston, were a very tired team.

Denver 122, Utah 116--The Nuggets, humiliated Tuesday night by the Lakers, returned home to score a victory on the sharpshooting of Darrell Walker.

Walker scored a career-high 39 points before being ejected on a second technical with nine seconds left. Walker, driving in for a shot that would put him over 40, exploded in anger after being called for a charging foul.

Alex English had 31 for Denver.