NBA ROUNDUP : Richmond in Right Place at Right Time as Warriors End 76ers’ Streak

The Golden State Warriors are one of the smallest teams in the NBA. Consequently, they are also one of the poorest rebounding teams.

But 6-foot-5 Mitch Richmond slipped inside the bigger 76ers to get a rebound basket with 0.3 of a second remaining Wednesday night at Philadelphia, and the Warriors ended the 76ers’ winning streak at 12 games, 113-112.

Charles Barkley, who finished with 30 points and 12 rebounds despite a groin injury, made just one of two free-throw attempts with 19 seconds left, but it gave the 76ers a 112-111 lead.

The Warriors called time out and tried to set up a play that would free either Chris Mullin or Richmond. But the 76ers forced Winston Garland, who had missed his only three previous shots, to attempt a jump shot to in the final seconds.

Richmond, who had scored nine points in the fourth quarter, put up the rebound for the victory. It gave him 32 points.

Most of the game, the Warriors’ lineup had only one player as tall as 6-7. Manute Bol, the 7-7 center, played only 16 minutes. The Warriors’ quickness forced most of the 20 Philadelphia turnovers.

“A very small team played very big tonight and came up with a gutsy win,” Warrior Coach Don Nelson said.

Richmond said it was the biggest basket of his career. He also praised his teammates hustle.

“The steals helped a lot,” he said. “I think we kind of fouled up their offense. They wanted to get it to Barkley, but they often wound up taking hurried shots.”

The victory was the Warriors’ seventh in their past nine games, but only their fifth in 23 road games.

The 76ers were subdued after their first loss since Jan. 12 against Cleveland. The defeat dropped the 76ers a game behind New York in the Atlantic Division.

“We knew we weren’t going to win all the rest of our games,” Barkley said. “One loss doesn’t put a damper on what we’ve done.”

Phoenix 128, Seattle 124--The Suns, their injury problems a thing of the past, are beginning to play the way they did most of last season.

Kevin Johnson, who was 17 of18 from the free-throw line, also had 11 assists to lead Phoenix to its seventh victory in eight games.

The SuperSonics, who won their last three on the road, lost for only the sixth time in 23 home games.

Johnson made four free throws in the last 40 seconds to finish with 33 points.

The Sonics missed four shots in the last 45 seconds.

Boston 146, Charlotte 125--Since he is on a streak at the free-throw line, teams have stopped fouling Larry Bird.

It seems it’s taking forever for Bird to reach Calvin Murphy’s NBA-record streak of 78 in a row. Despite the highest scoring total of the season for the Celtics, Bird had only two free-throw opportunities at Boston. He has made 68 consecutive free throws.

The Hornets, 1-20 on the road, were never in the game. With the Celtic starters making 33 of 46 from the field, the Celtics had 80 points at halftime.

Bird, who has been shooting about 46% from the field, was eight of 12. He started his free-throw streak Dec. 19 and has said that his shooting percentage suffered because he was fouled so often while shooting.

Utah 108, New Jersey 101--Delaney Rudd, as the backup for playmaker John Stockton, gets little chance to play.

When Stockton had to remain in his hotel because of the flu, Rudd got his chance at East Rutherford, N.J.

Rudd made the most of it. He played 35 minutes, and had 18 points, five rebounds and six assists as the Jazz ended a two-game losing streak on the road.

“I just tried to do what was expected of me,” Rudd said. “I pushed the ball up and ran the offense. Fortunately we built a pretty good lead in the second quarter and that relieved the pressure.”

Utah Coach Jerry Sloan was lavish in his praise of Rudd, a rookie who spent one year in the Continental Basketball Assn. and two seasons in Greece.

“It’s difficult playing behind Stockton,” Sloan said. “He gets only four or five minutes a game, then is asked to step in and fill the role.”