NBA Roundup : Bird, McHale Lead Celtics, 122-112

Larry Bird scored 30 points and Kevin McHale added 27 and grabbed 17 rebounds Friday night for the Boston Celtics, who defeated the Indiana Pacers, 122-112, at Hartford, Conn.

Reserve center Mark Acres, subbing for the injured Robert Parish, scored 17 points and had 10 rebounds for Boston.

The Pacers closed within 113-110 before the Celtics went on a 9-0 run in the game’s final two minutes to clinch the victory.

Bill Walton, who has been out all season while recovering from foot surgery, didn’t dress for the game but watched the game from the Celtic bench.

“We’re all looking forward to Walton’s return,” Bird said. “He makes us all play better.”

Boston’s Danny Ainge was 5 for 5 from the line, extending his streak to 36 straight free throws.

Atlanta 122, New York 115--Dominique Wilkins scored 40 points, including five during a 17-10 spurt in the last 5 1/2 minutes, as the Hawks won at Atlanta.

The game was tied, 105-105, when Wilkins teamed with Tree Rollins and Glenn Rivers, who scored four points apiece during the late burst.

The Knicks played much of the game without center Patrick Ewing, who got into early foul trouble. He fouled out with 3:12 to go after scoring only 8 points.

Utah 109, Washington 107--John Stockton’s lay-up with 32 seconds remaining capped a Utah rally and snapped a seven-game winning streak for the Bullets.

Washington failed to score after Steve Colter hit a shot with two minutes left that gave them a 107-102 lead.

Cleveland 117, San Antonio 107--John (Hot Rod) Williams, adjusting to his new role off the bench, scored a season-high 24 points, including two fourth-quarter free throws that put Cleveland ahead for good in the Cavaliers’ win over the Spurs at Richfield, Ohio.

The loss was the fifth straight for the Spurs, matching their season high. They also have lost 11 of their last 12 road games, while Cleveland has won six straight at home.

Williams, benched one game earlier so recently acquired Larry Nance could play power forward, hit two free throws with eight minutes left to snap the game’s 20th tie, putting Cleveland ahead for good, 94-92.

Philadelphia 124, Sacramento 118--Charles Barkley scored 32 points before he was thrown out of the game, and Cliff Robinson added 29 for the 76ers, who withstood a late Sacramento rally at Philadelphia.

Barkley was given two technical fouls and ejected by referee Ken Mauer with 2:27 left in the game. It was the fourth time this season that Barkley had been ejected.

Detroit 116, Phoenix 88--Dennis Rodman scored 10 points and grabbed 8 rebounds as the Pistons built a 20-point lead in the first quarter and went on to rout the Suns at Pontiac, Mich.

The Pistons led, 35-18, after the opening period and were never threatened in extending their home-court winning streak to 14 games, while handing the Suns their eighth consecutive setback.

Milwaukee 132, Denver 93--Jerry Reynolds scored 24 points and Terry Cummings 22, and the Bucks shot 60.2%, their best night of the season, to win at Milwaukee.

The Nuggets shot only 37.9% and incurred their worst setback of the year. Milwaukee set season highs with 40 points in the second period and 76 in the first half.