NBA Roundup : This Time, Bird Gets 42 Points, 20 Rebounds to Lead Celtics, 120-106

From top to bottom, the Boston Celtics organization was stung by the accusation that the team failed to repeat as National Basketball Assn. champion last season because it had been slowed by old age.

Nobody took this more to heart than Larry Bird. He spent the summer getting ready to prove the experts wrong. Even though the Celtics would be without Kevin McHale for the first couple of months, at least, Bird was determined to bring the Celtics back.

He spent the off-season on a weight program. A slimmer, trimmer, stronger Bird, sporting a short haircut, reported to training camp. His determination seems to have made the Celtics an even better team.

In the second regular-season game Saturday night, Bird put on an incredible show, scoring 47 points, including a basket at the buzzer ending the second overtime, to beat the Washington Bullets, 140-139.

He wasn’t as spectacular Wednesday night at Boston, but he may have been even better as he led the unbeaten Celtics to a 120-106 victory over Indiana, their fourth in a row.

Bird had 42 points and 20 rebounds and was at his best after the Pacers scored four points to open the fourth quarter and cut the Boston lead to seven points. Bird was rushed back into the game. He came through with a three-point shot, an 18-foot jumper and a rebound scoop shot.

Bird also found time for 5 assists, 2 blocked shots and 3 steals to make certain the Pacers lost for the 22nd consecutive time at Boston Garden.

Bird makes it sound simple. “My job is to put the ball in the hole and get back on defense,” he said.

Rookie Reggie Miller from UCLA continued to be impressive for the Pacers, coming off the bench to score 24 points in 32 minutes.

Chicago 105, New Jersey 96--Michael Jordan, after being shut out in the third quarter at East Rutherford, N.J., scored 13 points in a 15-8 spurt at the start of the last quarter that gave the unbeaten Bulls their third win in a row.

Jordan, who finished with 31 points, was given a five-minute rest just before taking charge and raising the Bulls’ lead to 95-80.

Milwaukee 109, Cleveland 101--The Cavaliers’ first glimpse of life without Ron Harper was not a pretty sight.

In their home opener without the splendid guard, the Cavaliers failed to find a replacement and committed 24 turnovers.

Jack Sikma led the Bucks with 26 points and 14 rebounds.

The Cavaliers, who will be without the injured Harper for at least eight weeks, were led by Brad Daugherty with 24 points.

Atlanta 94, New York 93--The difference, for now, between the Knicks of last season and Rick Pitino’s Knicks is that they lose by smaller margins.

After overcoming 4-for-19 shooting in the first quarter to pull even, the Knicks lost their third in a row in this game at New York.

Although he shot only 40% (10 for 25), Dominique Wilkins led the Hawks (3-1) with 33 points.

Utah 121, Dallas 92--Karl Malone scored 22 of his 32 points in the first half at Salt Lake City as the Jazz, coming back from a loss to the Clippers, built a 53-39 lead and coasted.

The Jazz lost its season opener to the Mavericks on a three-point shot at the buzzer by Derek Harper. In this game, Harper scored only 11 points .

Golden State 130, Phoenix 115--Frequently in the NBA, the loser of the first game will win the second of consecutive games between the same teams.

With Sleepy Floyd scoring 20 of his 37 points in the third quarter at Oakland, the Warriors (1-3), who were 123-109 losers at Phoenix Tuesday night, romped. Floyd also had 12 assists.