NBA ROUNDUP : Pistons Keep Low Profile, 72-61

Nostalgia buffs might have been the only people who enjoyed Sunday’s basketball travesty between the New York Knicks and Detroit Pistons at Auburn Hills, Mich.

This nationally televised game took fans back 37 years to the infancy of the 24-second clock.

The teams combined for 23 points in the third quarter, and the Pistons won, 72-61.

Only once since the 24-second clock came into use in 1954 have two teams combined for fewer points. Boston defeated Milwaukee, 62-57, in 1955--the first year of the shot clock.

The Knicks and the Pistons both shot atrociously. The Knicks made 23 of 75 shots (30.6 %) and the Pistons made 30 of 79 (37.9%).

It was the fifth victory in a row for the Pistons and kept alive their hopes of finishing ahead of Boston for the fourth-best record in the East and the home court edge in the first round of the playoffs.

Ironically, the big basket was a three-point shot by, of all people, Dennis Rodman. It came early in the fourth quarter after the Knicks, who scored 10 points in the second quarter and 13 in the third, managed to pull close.

Patrick Ewing, who made four of 20 shots, scored two consecutive baskets to pull the Knicks to within 52-48 with nine minutes to play. Then Rodman made his three-point shot, his 24th in 86 attempts, and, after Ewing hurried two jumpers, Darrell Walker scored on a breakaway and the Piston lead was safe.

“I think what you saw were two of the best defensive teams in the league and we certainly have the statistics to back it up,” Detroit Coach Chuck Daly said.

Knick Coach Pat Riley, who has seen his team’s lead in the Atlantic Division reduced to one game with four defeats in the last five games, had another thought.

“It was a bizarre, bizarre game,” he said. “At our end of the court, especially.”

The Knicks’ point total was the lowest in the club’s history. The previous record was 68 against the Lakers earlier this season.

Portland 123, San Antonio 97--Although Clyde Drexler has a swollen knee and didn’t suit up, the Trail Blazers had no trouble clinching their second consecutive Pacific Division title.

Kevin Duckworth emerged from a season-long slump to score 23 points and Terry Porter had 28. The Trail Blazers never trailed. They broke it open with an 11-2 run late in the first half to build the lead to 62-48.

Although they’ve clinched a playoff spot, the Spurs fell to 3-7 since losing center David Robinson.

Seattle 126, Minnesota 116--The SuperSonics moved into fifth place in the Western Conference as Ricky Pierce scored 21 points and Shawn Kemp had 18 points and 16 rebounds at Seattle.

The SuperSonics, who have won six of seven games, moved half a game ahead of San Antonio. The SuperSonics scored the first seven points and shot 65% from the field on the way to a 67-51 halftime lead.

Boston 128, Charlotte 102--The Celtics kept the pressure on the Knicks with an early rush at Charlotte, N.C.

The Celtics, with Reggie Lewis scoring 35 points on 15-for-19 shooting, took a 29-16 lead and never let up. It was their fifth consecutive win without ailing Larry Bird and their 12th win in 13 games.

The Celtics trail the Knicks by one game with three to play. The Celtics end the regular season Sunday at home against Miami. But first they play at Philadelphia Tuesday and at Detroit Wednesday.

The Knicks play Washington at home tonight, at Atlanta Tuesday and finish at Milwaukee Saturday.

Milwaukee 94, Philadelphia 90--Brad Lohaus scored 24 points at Philadelphia and the Bucks ended their club-record road losing streak at 24.

The 76ers, playing without Charles Barkley, lost their third in a row and their faint playoff hopes became dimmer. The 76ers have four games left and are four games out of eighth place, the final playoff spot in the East.

Barkley dislocated a finger during Friday’s loss at New York.

Cleveland 114, Washington 91--The Cavaliers are breezing into the playoffs. Brad Daugherty returned after missing a game with a mild injury to score 20 points and grab 14 rebounds at Richfield, Ohio.

The Cavaliers (54-24) have the third-best record in the NBA.

Fewest Points

A look at the lowest scoring totals in an NBA game since the 24-second shot clock was introduced for the 1954-55 season:

ONE TEAM

* 57--Milwaukee, vs. Boston at Providence, R.I., Feb. 27, 1955

* 59--Sacramento, at Charlotte, Jan. 10, 1991

* 61--New York, at Detroit, April 12, 1992

* 62--Boston, vs. Milwaukee at Providence, R.I., Feb. 27, 1955

* 63--Buffalo, vs. Milwaukee, Oct. 21, 1972

* 64--Indiana, at New York, Dec. 10, 1985

BOTH TEAMS

* 119--Milwaukee (57) vs. Boston (62), at Providence, R.I., Feb. 27, 1955

* 133--New York (61) at Detroit (72), April 12, 1992

* 135--Syracuse (66) vs. Ft. Wayne (69), at Buffalo, N.Y., Jan. 25, 1955

* 142--Syracuse (70) at Philadelphia (72), Dec. 29, 1954