NBA ROUNDUP : Boston Limps to Victory Over Cavaliers

The Boston Celtics, nearing the midpoint of the regular schedule, already have had a remarkable season.

Because of injuries, they have yet to put their best team on the floor. Some nights they are without as many as three of their top seven. Yet, they are in the race for the Atlantic Division title.

Reggie Lewis and Robert Parish led the Celtics to a 107-102 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers, another hurting team, Monday at Richfield, Ohio.

Lewis had 26 points and Parish 20, along with 13 rebounds, to lead the Celtics, who were without Larry Bird, Kevin McHale and Dee Brown. The slumping Cavaliers, who have lost three of their last four at home, were without Brad Daugherty and Larry Nance, their top big men.

The Celtics’ third victory in less than 60 hours enabled them to improve their record to 24-15 and stay in a virtual tie for first with New York.

Brown has missed the entire season after knee surgery, but he may return next month. Bird, the key Celtic, has missed 11 games, the last 10 in a row. A back problem will keep him sidelined indefinitely. McHale has missed 17 games, the last 11 because of a calf muscle tear.

Daugherty (Achilles’ tendon) and Nance (sore quadriceps) have minor injuries. But the absence of the big men enabled Parish, 38, to make the key plays and thwart the Cavaliers’ late rally.

With six points in a row, four by John Williams, the Cavaliers forged in front, 100-99, with 1:27 to play.

Parish scored on a short hook, then grabbed the rebound on a Cleveland miss. Lewis was fouled and made both free throws to end the Cavaliers’ bid.

Golden State 135, Charlotte 119--It was a predictable score with the best offense in the NBA going against the weakest defense at Oakland.

It also helped that the undermanned Hornets were playing their fifth game in seven days on a western swing.

The Warriors had an extra incentive. They want Coach Don Nelson to coach the West in the NBA All-Star game.

Nelson, who has never been a part of the game as a player or coach, will win the job if the Warriors have the best conference record through Sunday. Golden State, by beating Atlanta Wednesday night and New York Friday can clinch it.

Or it could happen if they beat one of the two teams and Phoenix loses tonight at Chicago.

“Our staff has been thinking about the All-Star game for the last week,” Nelson said. “The whole staff goes if we win the next two.”

Chris Mullin had 29 points, and the Warriors went to the front early. They had 40 points in the first quarter and have scored 278 in the last two games.

New York 105, Indiana 97--Maybe it was coincidence, but in the game after Knick Coach Pat Riley said the officials seemed to have it in for Patrick Ewing, the center had a big game.

Ewing, who was never in foul trouble at New York, had 15 points and 14 rebounds and the Knicks’ ended a three-game losing streak.

Despite Ewing, the Pacers led, 91-87, with seven minutes to play. They lost a chance to win when they missed five free throws in the closing moments, two in a row by Reggie Miller.

The Knicks clinched the victory when they went on a 9-0 run to take a 96-91 lead.

“As long as we can hold the opposition under 100, then we’ll have an opportunity to win,” Riley said. “That’s what won it for us today, not our offense. They missed some key free throws down the stretch, but I’m very aware of what it feels like to have missed free throws determine the game.”

“When Reggie Miller missed two foul shots, you know something’s wrong,” Indiana Coach Bob Hill said.

Miami 121, Minnesota 106--Glen Rice and Grant Long shook the Heat out of its lethargy in the second half at Miami, and the Heat handed the Timberwolves their fifth defeat in a row.

The Timberwolves, only 2-15 on the road, led, 56-52, at halftime. But Rice, who had 22 points, and Long (21) sparked the Heat to 69 points in the last 24 minutes.

The Heat, which won only 24 games last season, won its 18th. Last season it won No. 18 March 2.

Tony Campbell had 21 for the Timberwolves, who are 7-32, worst in the NBA.

The Timberwolves have scored more than 100 points in seven games in a row, one shy of the club record.

Philadelphia 99, Washington 91--Hersey Hawkins scored 24 points and Armon Gilliam had 20 points and 12 rebounds at Philadelphia to offset two more injuries.

Starting center Charles Shackleford (hamstring) and Mitchell Wiggins (sprained ankle) were unable to play for the 76ers, who had nine players in uniform.

Charles Barkley, who scored 30 in a victory over the Bullets Saturday, had 18.