NBA Roundup : Milwaukee Closes In on Detroit With Win

In their quiet way, the Milwaukee Bucks are making their presence felt in the highly-competitive Central Division of the National Basketball Assn.

The Bucks turned a 13-2 spurt in the middle of the fourth quarter into a 120-112 victory over the Detroit Pistons Sunday at Milwaukee. Their sixth straight win put the surprising Bucks just a half game behind the second-place Pistons.

The Pistons held an eight-point lead after three quarters, but the Bucks then went on an 11-2 run. Isiah Thomas made a 3-point shot to give Detroit a 95-93 lead with 6:59 left. It was Detroit’s final lead.

Terry Cummings had 5 of his 26 points in the winning drive, Jay Humphries, subbing for injured Sidney Moncrief, made a 3-point shot and Ricky Pierce and Jack Sikma also contributed as the Bucks soared to a 106-97 lead with 2:37 left.

The Bucks were supposed to be a team on the way out. After former coach Don Nelson posted a 50-32 record in 1986-87, the club skidded to 42-40 under Del Harris last season. Because of old age and a host of injuries, this season was supposed to be even worse.

But, approaching the midway point, the Bucks are 21-11. Only Cleveland, leader of the Central, has lost fewer games. After 32 games a year ago, the Bucks were 18-14.

One of the reasons for the change is the improvement in the rapport between Cummings and Harris. Last season, they had several run-ins and earlier this season they engaged in a shouting match during a game. They have solved their differences.

The 6-foot 9-inch forward in his seventh NBA season is enjoying his best one. His 25-point average is his best and he is leading his team in rebounds.

“I’m relaxed and having fun this season,” Cummings said. “The fact we’re winning is making it even more enjoyable.”

The Bucks had to overcome some phenomenal shooting to win. The Pistons shot 59.3% from the field, but shot only 13 free throws and were outscored, 27-11, from the line.

“We played outstanding for three quarters,” Coach Chuck Daly of the Pistons said. “But we had trouble matching up with their taller guards in the last period. The Bucks are playing better right now than any other team in the conference except Cleveland.”

Chicago 110, Boston 104--Michael Jordan is playing about the way he always does against the Celtics, but without Larry Bird playing against him, the results are better.

Jordan scored 42 points, including the go-ahead foul shots with 52 seconds left at Chicago that carried the Bulls to their fourth straight victory.

The two-time NBA scoring champion scored 17 points in the last quarter to assure the Bulls their third victory over the Celtics this season. He has scored 52, 38 and 42 in the games. An ailing Bird played in the first one before foot surgery.

“There’s nobody like him down the stretch,” Boston Coach Jimmy Rodgers said. “Sooner or later, you know he’s going to get the ball. He’s a passer, a blocker and every time the Bulls had the ball near the end he made something happen.”

Jordan also had 8 steals, 6 rebounds and 11 assists.

Philadelphia 116, Charlotte 109--Charles Barkley put on a show at Charlotte to lead the 76ers to their fifth straight victory.

As usual, the Hornets made a game of it. But they couldn’t handle Barkley, who had 24 points and 15 rebounds. The Hornets have lost four straight.

Miami 118, Indiana 117--The Heat, which trailed by 29 points in the third quarter at Miami, rallied to tie on Jon Sundvold’s 3-point shot with 4 seconds left in regulation.

They built a 5-point lead in the second overtime and barely held on to win their fourth game of the season and end a 10-game losing streak.

Rory Sparrow’s 4 free throws in the last 19 seconds enabled the Heat to win by 1 despite 3-pointers by Vern Fleming and Reggie Miller.

Dallas 111, Portland 108--It had seemed like a year, but it really had been only 3 weeks since the Mavericks won.

Derek Harper’s steal and layup with 17 seconds left at Dallas gave the Mavericks their first win in 1989 and ended their 7-game losing streak.