NBA ROUNDUP : Knicks Look Like the Champions

The longer the Detroit Pistons are without Isiah Thomas, the less they look like a team good enough to win a third consecutive NBA title.

Thomas, their playmaker and inspirational leader, is out for the regular season after undergoing wrist surgery. There is a chance Thomas will return for the playoffs, but that may be too late for the Pistons.

In the first few games after Thomas went out, the Pistons, with Joe Dumars and Vinnie Johnson taking over, didn’t miss a beat. But they have struggled lately.

The proud Pistons hit bottom Sunday in New York. The Knicks, pushed around lately by everybody, overcame a slow start to trounce the Pistons, 116-88. It was the fourth loss in six games for the faltering champions.

Without Thomas, the Pistons were stagnant on offense. They lacked their usual enthusiasm and didn’t even play tough defense.

The Knicks have the worst home record in the NBA--11-15. They showed why in the first quarter before a passive crowd 19,081.

After 12 minutes, despite the presence of the talented Patrick Ewing, they trailed, 24-16, and looked a beaten team.

However, much-maligned Mark Jackson came off the bench to give an immediate lift to the fast break and a pressing defense. Kiki Vandeweghe began to sink shots from outside and Ewing took over inside. The rest of the day the Knicks played like champions.

The Knicks took control with a 33-15 advantage in the second quarter, then continued to pour it on with 67 points in the second half.

Ewing had 28 points and 10 rebounds in 34 minutes, Vandeweghe scored 20 points and Jackson, in 29 minutes, had 11 assists and two steals. Charles Oakley had 15 rebounds, including six off the offensive board in the second quarter.

Johnson scored 23 points to keep the Pistons alive, but Dumars, bothered by a sore toe, was only three for 12 and had seven points and only four assists.

The Knicks had won only three of their past 11.

“If we can play like this,” Ewing said, “we can make the playoffs and hopefully win a championship. This was our best performance.”

Ewing might have been overly optimistic. At 22-29, the Knicks have the seventh-best record in the Eastern Conference, barely ahead of Washington (22-30) and Indiana (21-28). The first eight make the playoffs.

Boston 126, Denver 108--The Celtics built a 67-41 lead at halftime at Denver and coasted to their seventh consecutive victory.

It was such a romp that veteran center Robert Parish was needed for only 22 minutes. Larry Bird scored 17 points in the first quarter and played only 25 minutes.

Washington 108, Cleveland 104--Injuries to Haywoode Workman and Darrell Walker have left the Bullets practically unguarded, so rookie A.J. English had to play all 48 minutes of this game at Baltimore. He scored 31 points and had 10 assists.

Indiana 113, Sacramento 110--Michael Williams continued his outstanding play, leading the Pacers to an overtime victory at Indianapolis.

Williams had 22 points, including two clutch free throws with 11 seconds left, and 10 assists.

The Pacers had to overcome 35 points from Antoine Carr on 13-of-18 shooting and 29 points by rookie Lionel Simmons.

Ralph Sampson, battling back from injuries, played 15 minutes for the Kings, getting six points and 13 rebounds.

Milwaukee 111, Orlando 103--Dale Ellis had 13 points in his debut with the Bucks at Orlando, but Danny Schayes led the Bucks’ comeback.

Schayes scored 22 points in the second half, including a free throw to send the game into overtime and another to put the Bucks in front to stay.