NBA Roundup : Celtics Win 12th in Row on the Road to Success

All the talk is about the Boston Celtics’ sensational record at home where they will be shooting for an NBA-record 28th in a row tonight against the Detroit Pistons.

It should not be forgotten that the Celtics are also the best road team in the league. With Dennis Johnson and Robert Parish leading a third-quarter rally, the Celtics routed Cleveland, 123-105, Tuesday night at Richfield, Ohio. It was the 12th victory in a row for the high-flying Celtics and gave them a 26-12 record away from home.

The Celtics have a 62-13 record. By winning their last seven games they could tie the best record in history in the NBA. In the 1971-72 season, the Lakers had a 69-13 mark.

If they win the last seven, the Celtics will become the first team ever to go through a season without losing more than one game to any team.

The Cavaliers, who moved closer to a playoff spot despite the loss, trailed only, 61-59, at halftime. But, Johnson and McHale each scored eight points in the third quarter as the Celtics outscored the Cavaliers, 32-18, to turn a close game into another easy victory.

While Johnson and McHale were getting hot, World B. Free of the Cavaliers, was cooling off. He scored 24 points in the first half but only four in the second.

Because both of their challengers for the final playoff position in the East, Chicago and Indiana, lost, the Cavaliers remained in the strongest position. They have only seven games left and lead the Bulls by 2 1/2 games and the Pacers by 3 1/2.

The Celtics won this one without needing much from their star, Larry Bird. Bird played only 32 minutes, seven below his average. He took only 12 shots and scored only 16 points.

The Celtics are so good, they have even surprised Red Auerbach, the president of the club who has been so prominent throughout their success over the years.

“I never thought they would have this kind of record,” Auerbach told Peter May of the Hartford Courant. “Everyone else in the league is stronger, and anyone can beat you.

“This is one of the few teams I would pay to watch. And, what the hell, you got Bird. When they’re playing good, it’s heaven to watch.”

Milwaukee 116, Chicago 107--Terry Cummings scored 32 points at Milwaukee as the Bucks dealt a severe blow to the Bulls’ playoff hopes and clinched their seventh consecutive division title.

The Bucks have won all six titles since they joined the Central Division and also won the last time they were in the Midwest Division.

The Bucks led by 13 points in the third quarter, but Michael Jordan, who scored 20 of his 28 points in the second half, almost stole the victory for the Bulls.

The loss left the Bulls 2 1/2 games behind Cleveland with only six games left.

Houston 125, Golden State 121--Akeem Olajuwon put on a show, but the Rockets had to hold off a furious rally by the Warriors to improve their home-court record to 34-4.

Olajuwon scored 34 points, grabbed 22 rebounds and blocked 7 shots. The Rockets built a 24-8 lead and had to fight off a desperate rally.

Ralph Sampson, who missed three games because of an injured back, played nine minutes but failed to score.

Portland 127, Denver 110--Kiki Vandeweghe scored 21 of his 24 points in the second half at Portland to help the Trail Blazers break open a close game.

Alex English, who scored 12 points in the last quarter after the issue was decided, was held to 18 points, and the Nuggets fell three games behind Houston in the battle for first in the Midwest Division.

Atlanta 107, Washington 91--”We had something to prove,” Kevin Willis said after scoring 26 points and grabbing 16 rebounds at Atlanta to lead the Hawks to their first win over the Bullets in four tries.

“We had to show we could beat Washington,” he added.

Dominique Wilkins scored 33 points to lead the Hawks and continue his drive toward the scoring title.

Sacramento 109, San Antonio 99--Alvin Robertson of the Spurs had four steals at San Antonio and broke the record for most steals in a season, but the Spurs still came up short.

Mike Woodson scored 10 of his 21 points in a fourth-quarter rally that enabled the Kings to pull two games ahead of the Spurs in the battle for the seventh playoff spot in the Western Conference.

Robertson broke the record of 281 set 10 years ago by Don Buse, now an assistant coach of the Spurs.

The Spurs hold a two-game lead over Phoenix in the battle for the final playoff berth.

Detroit 116, Indiana 108--Kelly Tripucka scored 13 of his 31 points in a third-quarter surge at Pontiac, Mich., that enabled the Pistons to come from behind.

The Pistons, playing without their best player, Isiah Thomas, out with a hamstring injury, trailed, 56-50, at halftime. Tripucka’s spurt helped them take an 86-79 lead after three quarters.

Dallas 128, Phoenix 98--Mark Aguirre scored 13 of his 24 points in the third quarter at Dallas to help the Mavericks complete a sweep of the six games with the Suns this season.

The Mavericks led by only a point at halftime but outscored the Suns, 32-18, in the third quarter.

New Jersey 111, New York 93--Mike Gminski and Otis Birdsong each scored 22 points at New York as the Nets eliminated the injury-riddled Knicks from the playoffs.