NBA Roundup : Laimbeer Leads Pistons Past Hawks

Bill Laimbeer was just what the Detroit Pistons needed to take the fight out of Dominique Wilkins and the Atlanta Hawks in a 111-88 victory at Auburn Hills, Mich. Friday night.

With 7:55 remaining in the second quarter, Laimbeer and Wilkins got into a shoving match under the Hawks’ basket and each was assessed a technical foul. When order was restored, the Pistons, who led, 34-28, at the time, went on a 20-12 run to take a 54-40 halftime lead.

“It was just an incident that happens in a game,” Laimbeer said. “I don’t think it had anything to do with the outcome.”

“It’s a routine that they’ve enjoyed,” Atlanta Coach Mike Fratello said. “They relish the bad boy image.”

Laimbeer scored 7 of his 11 second-quarter points after the fracas while Wilkins scored only 2 and finished the first half with just 4 points. Laimbeer finished with 19 points, Wilkins had 9.

Boston 115, Charlotte 92--After blowing comfortable leads in 2-point losses to New York and Phoenix, the Celtics spent a couple of hours reviewing game films.

Coach Jimmy Rodgers said: “They say pictures are worth a thousand words. Some of the things we talked about came up and we saw some improvement.”

The Celtics avoided an unusual third consecutive loss at Boston Garden with 33-point outbursts in the first and fourth quarters, handing the Hornets their 10th consecutive road defeat.

Phoenix 120, Dallas 111--Tom Chambers scored 31 points, Armon Gilliam had 26 and Mark West had 24 with 15 rebounds as the streaking Suns won their 10th straight home game.

“I thought this was our best game of the year,” Sun Coach Cotton Fitzsimmons said.

Maverick Coach John MacLeod said: “You have to give the Suns credit. They’re razor-sharp. They’re playing some of the best basketball in the league right now.”

Utah 106, Chicago 92--Karl Malone took what Horace Grant gave him in the first half: 8 points.

Then Malone, using his experience and drive, scored 22 second-half points, including 5 baskets during a 16-4 third-quarter spurt to lift the Jazz at Chicago.

With 7-foot-4 Mark Eaton blocking the middle, Michael Jordan was able to drive to the basket only twice en route to 27 points.

Grant, who had 14 points and 15 rebounds, said: “I just couldn’t cope with Malone in that second half. He’s just got too much experience and know-how for me.”

Milwaukee 128, Washington 121--Ricky Pierce scored 4 of his 29 points in the second overtime to lead the Bucks at Baltimore.

The game, the Bullets’ first regular-season contest in the Baltimore Arena since the spring of 1973, drew a crowd of 6,429, more than turned out for either of 2 games earlier this week at the Capital Centre.

Portland 147, Sacramento 142--Clyde Drexler scored 8 of his career-high 50 points in the second overtime and the Trail Blazers won their 11th straight home game.

The Blazers, playing in front of their 500th consecutive home sellout since 1977, handed the Kings, who led most of the game, their ninth straight road loss. Sacramento is 1-15 away from home, the second-worst record in the NBA.