NBA Roundup : Hawks Continue Mastery of Cavaliers, 108-100

For the most part, the Atlanta Hawks have been a disappointment. Their fans thought that with the addition of Moses Malone and Reggie Theus, the Hawks would be the best team in the National Basketball Assn.

But it has not been that easy to work the two newcomers into the starting unit.

The exceptions have come in games against the Cleveland Cavaliers, the team with the league’s best record.

Malone scored six of his 21 points in the last 87 seconds Friday night at Atlanta to assure the Hawks of a 108-100 victory over the Cavaliers. It was only the Cavaliers’ 12th loss, three of them to the Hawks.

The only time Cleveland has defeated the Hawks this season, the aging Malone was playing in consecutive games and had only eight points.

The Hawks, with a healthy Dominique Wilkins (32 points) again leading them, built a 16-point lead in the third quarter, then blew it.

A jumper by Mark Price, who had 29 points, gave Cleveland a 99-96 lead with 2:37 left. Theus sank a jumper to reach 22 points, and Malone made two free throws to give Atlanta the lead for good, 100-99.

“We showed a lot of courage,” Malone said of his team’s comeback after the near-collapse. “If we play defense like we should, we’ll be an excellent team.”

With Wilkins getting a total of 104 points, the Hawks, who trail the Cavaliers by 6 1/2 games, have won three in a row, during which Wilkins has had a total of 104 points.

Phoenix 135, Boston 126--Everyone seems to delight in picking on the Celtics now that Larry Bird is unable to play.

The Celtics built a 70-57 halftime lead with the help of Brian Shaw’s 17 points at Phoenix. But Tom Chambers and Eddie Johnson led the Suns’ 78-point second half that resulted in the Celtics’ third loss in a row on the six-game trip.

Chambers scored 15 of his 40 points and Johnson had 14 of his 37 as Phoenix outscored the Celtics, 45-31, in the third quarter to take a one-point lead.

For only the second time in 21 years, the Suns won their season series with the Celtics, 2-0.

Houston 121, Denver 111--Akeem Olajuwon had 34 points and 15 rebounds, and Sleepy Floyd sank all five of his three-point shots to lead the Rockets at Houston.

Houston led most of the way, but by just 107-105 with 3:30 left. Floyd’s three-pointer and two free throws on technicals against Denver Coach Doug Moe put the game out of reach in the next minute.

New Jersey 129, Philadelphia 127--Roy Hinson scored six of his 24 points in overtime at Philadelphia as the Nets ended the 76ers’ three-game winning streak.

Buck Williams put in a rebound with four seconds left in regulation to get the Nets into the overtime.

It was Corey Gaines, just out of the Continental League, who scored the basket in overtime that put the Nets ahead to stay, 125-123.

Miami 103, Charlotte 102--Rory Sparrow barely beat the final buzzer with his turnaround jumper at Miami to give the Heat the victory in the battle of the expansion teams.

Seattle 126, Washington 112--Nate McMillan had his second triple-double of the week to lead the SuperSonics to their 19th win in their last 20 home games.

McMillan had 16 points, 16 assists and 13 rebounds.