NBA Roundup : Portland Blazes On With 128-101 Victory

The Portland Trail Blazers not only lost five of their first six games this season--they also lost their often-injured center, Sam Bowie.

Instead of folding up, the Trail Blazers straightened out with 6-foot 10-inch Steve Johnson as their man in the middle. They have won 10 of their last 12 games and are second only to the Lakers in the Pacific Division.

Kiki Vandeweghe scored 18 of his 29 points in the second half at Portland Sunday night to lead the blazing Blazers to a 128-101 victory over the Washington Bullets.

Clyde Drexler produced 23 points, 8 rebounds and 7 assists for Portland, which won its 11th straight home game.

The Bullets, who appeared tired in their third road game in a row, trailed by only six points late in the third quarter. But Portland scored seven unanswered points, and it became a breeze.

“The thing I like so much,� said Coach Mike Schuler of the Trail Blazers, “is they’re playing so well together now. We really do have good chemistry on this team. The guys really do get along well.�

Cleveland 104, Indiana 94--Rookie guard Ron Harper showed up with the flu and a sore throat at Richfield, Ohio, but in no time at all he made the Pacers look sick.

Harper scored 21 points and had 7 rebounds, and he scored 6 points in the last six minutes to assure the Cavaliers of their eighth win in the last 12 games.

Backup rookie guard Mark Price had a hip pointer and a cold, but he contributed all seven of his points in the last six minutes to help thwart the Pacers.

Golden State 121, Seattle 112--The Warriors used a full-court press for six minutes of the second quarter to turn the game around at Seattle.

The Warriors trailed, 42-33, when they started playing tough defense and outscored the SuperSonics, 22-6, to take the lead for good. During the spurt, they forced eight turnovers.

Chris Washburn, used sparingly this season, scored six points and played solid defense during the Warrior surge.

The Warriors increased the lead to 21 points in the third quarter, in which the Sonics shot only 33%.