NBA Roundup : Price Helps Cavaliers’ Playoff Bid

Because the Cleveland Cavaliers went with three rookies in their starting lineup last season, they weren’t too concerned when they missed the playoffs. They were building for the future.

With the youngsters, Ron Harper, Brad Daugherty and Mark Price, as a nucleus, they expected to make the playoffs this season and become a force in the Central Division.

Instead, they are in a four-team battle for the last two playoff spots in the Eastern Conference. If they make the playoffs, it will probably be because Price came through when needed most.

In a season in which Harper, the star last season, has been slowed by an injury that kept him out of 22 games, and Daugherty has failed to reach the expected stardom, Price has been the bright spot.

Price scored 24 points and had 10 assists Tuesday night at Richfield, Ohio, to lead the Cavaliers to a 108-103 victory over the New York Knicks. It was only the fourth win in the last 17 games for the Cavaliers, but it put them one-half game ahead of the Philadelphia 76ers in the battle for the seventh playoff position.

The loss dropped the Knicks, who are 4-30 on the road, two games behind the Cavaliers. The other team in the playoff battle, the Washington Bullets, is a game behind Cleveland and plays host to the Cavaliers tonight.

While Price was steady throughout, it was Dell Curry, off the bench, who made the difference in the fourth quarter when he scored 13 of his 19 points. He also had a key steal from the Knicks’ Gerald Wilkins with 11 seconds remaining to seal the victory.

“We knew this would be a hard-fought game,” Price said, “and this was one of the hardest we’ve been in from quarters one through four. Both teams were aggressive, and I think it’s going to be a dogfight from here on out for the last two spots.”

While Harper has had trouble regaining his rookie form, and Daugherty has been double- and triple-teamed, Price has shown the most improvement.

Price, who averaged 6.9 points and 3 assists as a rookie, has a 15.5 scoring average and nearly 6 assists.

“I feel like I’ve really improved, and I’m playing the best basketball of my life,” Price said. “I owe a lot to my teammates. Last year I struggled some, being a rookie and having my appendix out. They did everything to make it easier for me.

“Give a lot of the credit to Dell. He hardly played as a rookie last year, and he’s just learning to relax. We need everybody to play well in the stretch.”

Despite the loss, Bill Cartwright, who came off the bench to score 14 points in 24 minutes for the Knicks, felt his team did some good things.

“We think it’s our destiny (to make the playoffs),” he said. “We just have to play good basketball. We did a lot of good things.”

Denver 107, Sacramento 103--Alex English scored 30 points at Sacramento to become the 10th all-time leading scorer in NBA history and lead the Nuggets to their sixth consecutive victory.

A jumper late in the game enabled English to score his 20,942nd point to move past Walt Bellamy. English trails the leader, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, by about 17,500 points.

The Nuggets are much closer to first place in the Midwest Division. They have a 44-26 record and, with 12 games remaining, they trail the Dallas Mavericks by three games.

The Nuggets have a home-and-home series left with the Mavericks.

Atlanta 120, Dallas 106--The Hawks are not ready to concede the Central Division title to the Detroit Pistons.

With Dominique Wilkins having one of his best shooting nights in a long time, the Hawks romped at Atlanta and pulled within four games of the Pistons.

Wilkins made 17 of 30 shots and had 40 points, the 14th time this season he had at least that many.

Another reason for the easy win over the Midwest Division leader was the shooting of Randy Wittman, who was 9 for 11.

“When Randy’s hitting,” Wilkins said, “it opens things up for me. They can’t double up when he’s hot.”

Portland 136, San Antonio 113--Clyde Drexler scored 29 points, and Rich Anderson came off the bench to sink 5 of 7 three-point shots at San Antonio to help the Trail Blazers end a three-game losing streak.

Alvin Robertson scored 25 points and Walter Berry 21 for the Spurs, who have lost 13 of their last 16 but still lead Phoenix by three games in the battle for the last playoff spot in the West.

The Suns and Spurs each have 14 games remaining. They play each other once in Phoenix.

Seattle 106, Chicago 103--The SuperSonics held Michael Jordan to 26 points at Seattle, and Tom Chambers scored 34 to lead them to their third victory in a row.

In leading the Bulls to three victories last week, Jordan, who has just about clinched his second consecutive scoring title, scored 126 points, averaging 42 points a game.