NBA Roundup : Celtics Are Down 28 With Bird Out, Then Win

When the Boston Celtics learned just before tipoff time Wednesday night at Boston Garden that Larry Bird would not play against the New York Knicks, it left them in a state of shock.

Bird, suffering from tendinitis in both Achilles’ tendons, warmed up but found he just couldn’t play.

Without Bird and also injured Kevin McHale, the Celtics stood around and watched as the lowly Knicks built a 61-36 halftime lead. They didn’t sink a field goal in the second period.

Maybe, it wasn’t too surprising, with Fred Roberts and Darren Daye trying to fill the shoes of the best pair of forwards in basketball.

But in a remarkable performance, the Celtics battled back and Daye, Bird’s replacement, tipped in Dennis Johnson’s missed shot at the end of the second overtime to give the Celtics a 111-109 victory.

Before starting their comeback in the third quarter, the Celtics fell 28 points behind.

Danny Ainge and Daye paced the Boston comeback. Ainge scored 33 points, sinking six three-point baskets. Daye had 19 points.

The Knicks led, 82-70, going into the fourth quarter, but were 2 for 14 in the quarter. Ainge’s third three-pointer of the quarter tied the score, 93-93, with 46 seconds left in regulation.

The Knicks scored the first six points in the first overtime, but Boston scored the last six. Neither team scored in the last 69 seconds.

In the second overtime Patrick Ewing’s eight-foot baseline jumper tied the score, 109-109, with 17 seconds left. The Celtics set up Johnson for the last shot. He missed, but Daye, the former UCLA star, tipped in the rebound.

Bird, who injured his ankles in Tuesday’s loss at Cleveland, tried to warm up before the game, but after 10 minutes, went back to the lockerroom. He would not talk about the injury.

Celtics General Manager Jan Volk was Bird’s designated spokesman. “Larry’s feeling better,” he said. “It is tendinitis of the Achilles tendons in both ankles. It’s not serious, but it’s something to think about. The problem is less acute than the Achilles trouble he had last season.”

Chicago 84, Washington 82--After the Bulls played sloppily Tuesday night at Chicago and barely outlasted the Bullets, Coach Doug Collins said the team still has a long way to go to become a contender in the NBA.

They may have moved a little closer to being a contender in this game at Landover, Md. With Michael Jordan scoring eight of his 30 points in the last 2 1/2 minutes, the Bulls performed a rare feat--wins over the same team on consecutive nights, especially when the second one is on the losing team’s home court.

The Bulls improved their record to 6-1, their best start since 1971-72, when they were 7-1.

Jordan started his late spurt with the Bullets leading, 75-74. He sank two free throws, then made an 18-foot jumper and the Bullets never got even again.

Charles Oakley, who made a diving save of a ball going out of bounds in the closing seconds, also had a big game for the Bulls with 19 points and 24 rebounds.

“Playing a team two nights in a row is very difficult,” Collins said. “Both teams adjust. We did some things differently. The job Artis Gilmore did on Moses (Malone) was the key.

“Last night he had 22 points. Artis allowed him only one field goal.”

Philadelphia 113, Detroit 109--Maurice Cheeks scored 11 of his 25 points in the fourth quarter as the 76ers shocked the Pistons at Pontiac, Mich.

Charles Barkley was also a major contributor to the 76ers’ drive that ended a three-game losing streak. The bulky forward had 29 points (making 11 of 15 shots) and 15 rebounds.

Guard David Wingate, who needed 20 stitches to close a cut on his face after he fell into a glass door, played 20 minutes for the 76ers, scoring 10 points.

The Pistons had beaten the 76ers six times in a row.

Atlanta 95, Golden State 92--Glenn Rivers didn’t want to risk a turnover, so with 18 seconds left at Atlanta, he sank a short jumper to clinch the victory.

When Rivers, only 2 for 8 to that point from the field, took the shot, the Hawks led by only a point.

“I’ve learned to take what they give you in a spot like that,” Rivers said. “I just tried to back them down low and when I was in position for a percentage shot I took it. I’m glad it went in.”

Indiana 117, Denver 106--Vern Fleming scored a career-high 30 points as the surprising Pacers handed the Nuggets their first defeat at home this season.

It was the third consecutive win on the road for the Pacers (5-3).

With Fleming leading the way, the Pacers led from the start. They built a 21-point lead early in the third period. But Denver fought back and trailed, 89-87, with nine minutes left.

Chuck Person, who had 21 points, sank two jumpers and two free throws and Indiana was out of danger. Rookie Reggie Miller came off the bench to score 15 points for Indiana.

Phoenix 90, Utah 80--The Suns aren’t much on the road, but they are tough in Phoenix. With Walter Davis scoring 34 points, the Suns won their 12th consecutive at home dating to last season.

Mark Eaton, who had a career-high 25 rebounds Tuesday night, had 12 in this game, the fourth straight road loss for the Jazz.

Seattle 120, Portland 114--Xavier McDaniels’ dunk with 2:12 left put the SuperSonics ahead, and they held off the Trail Blazers at Seattle.

McDaniels finished with 32 points, and Dale Ellis and Tom Chambers each added 25 as Seattle sent Portland to its fifth straight loss, the longest losing streak for the Blazers since February of 1986.

Kiki Vandeweghe had 41 points for Portland.