NBA ROUNDUP : Even Without Bird, Celtics Are Making a Move

Even before Larry Bird’s back started bothering him again, the New York Knicks appeared to have the NBA’s Atlantic Divsion title in hand.

Pat Riley’s Knicks had a five-game lead with only eight games left in the regular schedule. The Knicks seemed home free because Bird’s Boston Celtics, without their star, were facing the three best teams in the East.

But in a strange twist, there is now a race in the Atlantic Division.

Kevin McHale scored nine of his 15 points in the fourth quarter and the Celtics overcame a 35-point performance by Patrick Ewing to beat the Knicks, 93-89, Wednesday night at Boston. That completed the sweep of the three top teams in the conference. As a result, they have pulled to within two games of the Knicks with five games left.

With Bird a spectator, the Celtics stunned Chicago Sunday and outlasted Cleveland, the team with the third-best record in the NBA, Tuesday night before taking on their favorite foe.

When the Knicks, despite Ewing’s 15 points in the fourth quarter, were unable to overcome a 13-point deficit, they lost their 23rd consecutive regular-season game at Boston Garden.

The Celtics have won the season series from the Knicks every time since 1970-71.

The Knicks still figure to have the upper hand. They play Philadelphia and Washington at home and Detroit, Atlanta and Milwaukee on the road. The Celtics play Milwaukee and Miami at home and Charlotte, Philadelphia and Detroit on the road.

“I like our chances if we keep playing hard,” Boston Coach Chris Ford said. “We have to play hard the next five.”

Bird may play Friday night against Milwaukee.

Detroit 89, Philadelphia 71--The Pistons, despite their slide from past championship seasons, could still finish fourth in the East.

Mark Aguirre, scoreless in his previous game, came off the bench at Philadelphia to score 22 points and spark the Pistons.

The Pistons (45-32) are only one game behind the surging Celtics in the battle for the homecourt edge in the final first-round playoff series.

The loss may have been the final blow to the 76ers’ playoff hopes. They now trail Atlanta and New Jersey--tied for the last two playoff spots--by three games with only six remaining.

New Jersey 109, Washington 103--The Nets, badly needing the victory, trailed most of the way at Landover, Md.

But Drazen Petrovic scored seven of his 25 points in the final 5 1/2 minutes and the Nets rallied to win. The Nets moved into a tie with Atlanta for seventh place in the East.

Indiana 122, Milwaukee 107--Reggie Miller had 24 points and Chuck Person 22 at Milwaukee, as the Pacers eliminated the Bucks from the playoffs.

In losing their 10th in a row, the Bucks failed to qualify for postseason play for the first time in 13 years. For the first time, they will participate in the draft lottery.

Golden State 110, Dallas 91--Chris Mullin scored 29 points at Oakland and the Warriors took a one-game lead over Phoenix in the battle for second place in the Pacific Division.

Mullin helped the Warriors end a two-game losing streak.

The Mavericks have won only five of 37 road games.