NBA ROUNDUP : Pistons Roll Past Bucks at Home, 106-79

All the Detroit Pistons needed to get on the right track to defend their NBA championship was to play at home.

After playing five of their first six games on the road the Pistons were 3-3, and people already were pointing out how difficult it is to win back-to-back titles.

In two games at home the Pistons have looked like champions. A one-sided win at Auburn Hills, Mich., over Miami was expected, but the lopsided 106-79 victory over Milwaukee Friday night was a different story.

The Bucks, who overwhelmed Orlando Thursday night with a 50-point first quarter, started Friday in like manner. They led 10-2 early and 24-18 at the quarter. Thereafter, the Bucks looked weary and Detroit, outrebounding them, 30-10, led, 46-37, at halftime and never looked back.

“They (the Bucks) pride themselves on boards,” Coach Chuck Daly said after his team outrebounded the Bucks, 53-25. “They figure if they get 45 a night they will win. Our plan was to see that they didn’t reach their quota.

“Our guards played a big role in that plan. I thought our guard play was exceptional, particularly off the backboards. Vinnie (Johnson) had nine and Isiah (Thomas) seven.”

Joe Dumars, who was 10 for 13 from the field, led the Pistons to their 24th consecutive regular-season home-court victory. A playoff loss to Chicago is their only loss at Auburn Hills in 31 games since Jan. 27.

Dumars scored eight of his 22 points in a 27-10 spurt in the third quarter that wiped out the Bucks.

Jack Sikma, who had 12 points, including a four-point play when he was fouled making a three-pointer in the first quarter, had only four points the rest of the way for the Bucks.

“After our fast start, we made the mistake of rushing our offense,” Sikma said. “You can’t do that against their tough defense.”

Philadelphia 108, San Antonio 101--It was a successful return to Philadelphia for Maurice Cheeks, long a favorite with 76er fans.

Cheeks was given a two-minute standing ovation and for 46 minutes 59 seconds, it was a fine night for the Spurs.

But Charles Barkley scored four of his 25 points in an 8-0 burst in the last 61 seconds that gave the 76ers the victory.

Coach Larry Brown, in an effort to get the Spurs out of a mild slump, shook up his lineup. He benched rookies David Robinson and Sean Elliott and guard Willie Anderson. Robinson had 20 points and 14 rebounds in 27 minutes.

Cheeks had 15 points and seven assists.

Boston 116, Minnesota 99--In previous seasons, the Celtics did not give Larry Bird and other veteran stars much bench time.

This is a new era. In this game at Boston, Bird played the most minutes (28), but even he spent 20 minutes on the bench in the one-sided contest.

Each of the Celtics’ seven subs played at least 12 minutes.

The main reason Coach Jimmy Rodgers wanted a breather was that the Celtics, who have had trouble in back-to-back games, visit the champion Detroit Pistons tonight.

Cleveland 131, Atlanta 125--Craig Ehlo, who became a regular when the Cavaliers traded Ron Harper to the Clippers, showed his appreciation at Richfield, Ohio.

Ehlo had 31 points and nine assists while playing all but three minutes of the Cavaliers’ overtime win. John Williams’ tip-in in the closing seconds of regulation tied the score, and a three-pointer by Ehlo put the Cavaliers ahead to stay in overtime.

Portland 110, Phoenix 109--If somebody is good enough to dethrone the Lakers in the Pacific Division, it is probably one of these teams. It is difficult to separate them.

Although Clyde Drexler returned and scored 27 points after missing four games because of a sore elbow, the Trail Blazers had to come from behind in the closing minute to win.

Utah 114, Indiana 100--John Stockton almost had a different kind of triple-double in leading the Jazz to victory at Salt Lake City.

Stockton had 17 points, 18 assists and 8 steals to help the Jazz improve their record to 6-1.