NBA Roundup : Nets Hand Celtics Third Straight Loss, 117-107

Are cracks showing in the parquet floor?

The Boston Celtics absorbed their third loss in a row Wednesday night--to the New Jersey Nets, 117-107, of all people. It was their first regular-season defeat at Boston Garden to an Eastern Conference team in 67 games.

New Jersey (14-42) is 2-0 since Willis Reed was hired as coach Monday.

“As much as everyone was concerned about my taking a bad job, it’s been good for the first two nights,” the former New York Knicks center said.

Boston forward Larry Bird said: “That’s probably one of the ugliest games I’ve ever been involved in here. There is nothing positive about it but that it’s over.”

Boston, winner of its previous 15 home games, was without Kevin McHale, who was sidelined with a strained left knee. Bird led the Celtics with 34 points and 15 rebounds.

Dallas 115, Sacramento 90--Sixth man Roy Tarpley and Mark Aguirre scored 18 points each as the Mavericks pushed their franchise-record winning streak to 10, coasting to victory at Dallas.

Dallas started its decisive run by expanding a lead to 84-60 with 2:44 left in the third quarter on Detlef Schrempf’s layup. Rolando Blackman got the streak started with a layup, then Tarpley hit three straight baskets as Dallas ran its record to 39-17.

Under Coach John MacLeod, Tarpley, a 7-footer, has been given an opportunity to display his talents, which include an uncanny timing for offensive rebounds.

“Roy has become such a force that we think he has a bad night if he doesn’t get 15 rebounds,” Blackman said.

Tarpley often comes into the game for strong forward Sam Perkins, but he also spells center James Donaldson, who is bothered by hamstring problems.

The moment Tarpley straps on his protective goggles, the Reunion Arena crowd comes alive.

“I come into every game pumped up because of the fans,” Tarpley said. “Sure, I’d like to start some day, but I help the team more by coming off the bench. It gives me time to study the man I’m going to go against.”

In averaging 26 minutes per game, Tarpley has averaged 11 rebounds and 12 points per game.

Washington 111, Indiana 102--The Bullets had only 10 players in uniform, but two guys named Malone were about all they needed to post their fourth straight win. Moses Malone had 28 points and 14 rebounds, and Jeff Malone added 25 points.

The Bullets, playing at home for the first time since Feb. 15, lost Bernard King and Frank Johnson to injuries on their recent eight-game Western trip.

Denver 99, Cleveland 81--Lafayette Lever scored 20 points and grabbed a career-high 20 rebounds, and Michael Adams scored a game-high 23 points to lead the Nuggets at home.

It was the Cavaliers’ fifth loss in a row.

Houston 108, Golden State 101--Rodney McCray’s perfect shooting early in the game, and Akeem Olajuwon’s 32-point, 18-rebound performance paced the Rockets’ victory at Oakland.

McCray made a pair of three-point plays and scored 10 points in the first quarter, going 4 for 4 from the floor and 2 for 2 from the foul line.

McCray finished with 20 points. Golden State’s top scorers, all with 17 points, were Chris Mullin, Winston Garland and Dave Feitl, who started in place of the injured Ralph Sampson.

Sampson was placed on the Warriors’ injured list Wednesday, meaning he will miss at least five more games. Sampson, limping from a strained ligament and cartilage tear in his right knee, missed the previous two games after hurting the knee last week.