NBA ROUNDUP : McHale Can’t Stop Spurs, 100-84

It was the start of a six-game trip that may determine whether the Boston Celtics can win the Atlantic Division, and it began on an encouraging note.

The Celtics, crippled by injuries most of the season, welcomed back Kevin McHale after the forward sat out 15 games because of a tear in his right calf. And, upon arrival in San Antonio on Tuesday, the team announced that center Robert Parish, at 38 the oldest NBA player, would return for another season.

Parish might not have wanted to return after facing David Robinson. The Spurs’ center scored 23 points and grabbed 15 rebounds as San Antonio won, 100-84. Parish had six points and six rebounds and committed eight turnovers.

The loss dropped the Celtics, who will play at Dallas tonight, 2 1/2 games behind New York and they fell to 9-13 on the road.

McHale, who played 19 minutes, was only one for seven from the field and had four rebounds.

The Spurs are 7-2 since Bob Bass replaced new Clipper Coach Larry Brown.

“You have to give their defense some credit,” Parish said. “Every time I got the ball, there were three or four people around me.”

Milwaukee 104, Detroit 87--The league’s other old man in the middle, Moses Malone, kept Dennis Rodman off the boards and led the Bucks at Milwaukee.

The Bucks were leading, 77-76, with nine minutes to play. Malone then scored 10 of his 24 points during a 19-3 run that brought out the worst in Detroit Coach Chuck Daly.

Malone made a three-point play to give the Bucks a 93-80 lead with four minutes to play. During a timeout, the Pistons’ Orlando Woolridge was assessed a technical foul. Daly screamed at officials, continuing to do so after being ejected.

Daly’s two technicals made six for the game for the Pistons, who had won four in a row.

Rodman, in early foul trouble, played only 24 minutes instead of his usual 44 and had only six rebounds.

Chicago 133, New Jersey 113--Ordinarily, when the Bulls are having trouble pulling away, they turn the game over to Michael Jordan.

But, after falling behind, 94-93, at the start of the last period at Chicago, it was two reserves, B.J. Armstrong and Will Perdue, who rallied the defending NBA champions.

Armstrong had two baskets and Perdue a three-point play to give the Bulls a 100-94 lead.

Then Jordan, who finished with 34 points, six rebounds, seven assists and four steals, took over and the Bulls ended their two-game losing streak.

It was the eighth consecutive loss for the Nets.

Indiana 100, Orlando 98--Detlef Schrempf came off the bench to lead the Pacers’ comeback at Orlando.

Schrempf sank a 17-foot jumper as time expired to cap the comeback. It gave the 6-foot-10 forward 26 points and he had a personal-best 23 rebounds.

Orlando led by nine points with 3:03 to play.

Charlotte 113, Atlanta 108--Larry Johnson sank four free throws to preserve the Hornets’ fifth victory in 24 road games.

Kendall Gill had 27 points for the Hornets, who have won three in a row for the first time this season.

Philadelphia 114, Miami 102--There are times when the other 76ers play so well they don’t need much from Charles Barkley. Such was the case as the 76ers ended the Heat’s seven-game home winning streak.

Hersey Hawkins had 20 of his 29 points during the first half. The 76ers scored 38 points during the first quarter and opened their lead to 80-49 after 24 minutes.

Although Barkley played 40 minutes, he had only 14 points and nine rebounds.

Utah 111, Cleveland 109--John Stockton’s driving layup with .01 seconds to play at Salt Lake City improved the Jazz’s home record to 21-2.

The Cavaliers were setting up the final shot in regulation with the score 109-109 when Blue Edwards stole the ball and Stockton won the game.

Golden State 139, Washington 127--The All-Star break apparently was what the Warriors needed.

After losing their last two games to expansion teams at the end of a long trip, the Warriors had a 44-point second quarter.

The Warriors’ Chris Mullin and Tim Hardaway accounted for 62 points, 33 by Mullin.

Portland 121, Denver 112--Clyde Drexler had 28 points and led a second-half surge by the Trail Blazers at Portland.

The Nuggets led, 62-57, at halftime, but the Trail Blazers took charge with a 37-point third quarter.

Seattle 105, Houston 99--Eddie Johnson sank the go-ahead basket with 56 seconds to play and Ricky Pierce followed with four free throws for the SuperSonics at Seattle.

The Rockets’ Hakeem Olajuwon had 40 points and 19 rebounds.