NBA Roundup : McHale, in a Record Performance, Scores 56 in Win Over the Pistons

Kevin McHale, long known as the best sixth player in the NBA, has adjusted rather well to his new role as a starter.

Most of his five seasons with the Boston Celtics, McHale has come off the bench and ignited the offense. But with the knee injury to Cedric Maxwell two weeks ago, McHale became a starter.

In his sixth game as the replacement for Maxwell at forward, the 6-10 McHale broke the Boston single-game scoring record Sunday at Boston in leading the Celtics to a 138-129 victory over the Detroit Pistons.

McHale, making 22-of-28 shots from the field and 12-of-13 free-throw attempts, scored 56 points to break Larry Bird’s record of 53 set two years ago. He also had 16 rebounds, 10 on the offensive boards, turning nine of them into rebound baskets. The performance put McHale ahead of such famous Celtics as Bob Cousy, John Havlicek and Bill Russell.

“I’m basically a role player,” McHale said. “I suppose it will sink in tonight that, for one day, at least, I’m up there with all those greats.

“The only time I ever scored that many points before was in a pickup game when I was 12. And then we played almost five hours.”

McHale had 22 points in the first quarter, just one off the club mark. He stole the limelight from Larry Bird, who had one of his normal days. Bird had 30 points, 15 rebounds and 10 assists.

McHale helped the Celtics build a 15-point lead in the third quarter, but Isiah Thomas led a Detroit rally that sent the Pistons in front, 106-105, early in the fourth quarter.

Then, Bird asserted himself. He scored seven points in a 14-2 spurt that was decisive. McHale scored Boston’s last nine points, reaching 56 with 2:28 left.

In his three previous games as a starter, McHale scored a total of 46 points. In his six games as a starter, he is now averaging 25.8, while playing 38 minutes per game. He was averaging 17.3 coming off the bench and playing 30 minutes.

With Philadelphia losing, the Celtics increased their lead in the Atlantic Division to 1 1/2 games.

New Jersey 117, Chicago 113--Otis Birdsong scored 30 points, including a pair of crucial free throws with 13 seconds left at Chicago to give the surging Nets their fourth-consecutive victory.

Micheal Ray Richardson had 28 points for the Nets. The two backcourt stars combined for 27 field goals in 42 attempts.

Michael Jordan led all scorers with 37, but the Bulls were without their other sharpshooting guard, Quintin Dailey. The troubled Dailey was suspended for two games and fined $250 for missing another practice session Saturday. Dailey has spent most of the season in Coach Kevin Loughery’s doghouse.

Houston 99, Philadelphia 90--Ralph Sampson and Akeem Olajuwon continued to sparkle but it was a tough defense that enabled the Rockets to hold the 76ers to their lowest output of the season.

It was a battle of big, strong front lines and the Rockets won the war. Sampson had 25 points, Olajuwon 22 and 15 rebounds and Rodney McCray had 16. Moses Malone had 25 for the 76ers, but only 10 rebounds.

The Rockets took the lead in the second quarter and the 76ers never caught up. The Rockets’ biggest lead was 15 after the 76ers missed their first five shots in the fourth quarter.

Portland 121, Utah 93--Rookie Steve Colter, given a chance to start because of the injury to Darnell Valentine, scored a career-high 25 points at Portland to lead the Trail Blazers to an easy victory. Colter was 8 for 13 from the field, had 5 steals and 7 assists.