NBA Roundup : Knicks Pay Hawks Back, 118-86

The New York Knicks were humiliated Saturday night by the Hawks in Atlanta. They fell behind early and trailed by as many as 30 points in the third quarter.

Coach Bob Hill started studying the game films immediately. He finally came to the conclusion that the Knicks could beat the soaring Hawks.

The secret was to get his big men, Patrick Ewing and Bill Cartwright, involved in the offense. In the 114-92 loss at Atlanta, they combined for only 25 points and weren’t in the game on the boards, either.

Ewing had 31 points and 8 rebounds, and Cartwright had 15 points and 14 rebounds as the Knicks routed the leaders of the Central Division, 118-86, Tuesday night at New York. It was the worst loss of the season for the Hawks (22-8).

Ewing and Gerald Wilkins enabled the Knicks to break open a tight game in the third quarter. Ewing had 14 points, Wilkins 11 and the Knicks outscored the Hawks, 32-22, after holding only a three-point lead at halftime. When Atlanta went almost four minutes at the start off the fourth quarter without making a basket, it was a rout.

“I was obsessed with beating Atlanta,” Hill told the Associated Press. “I spent so many hours looking at film that my eyes hurt.”

Wilkins, of course, enjoyed the win over his more famous brother, Dominique, who once again outscored him, 22-19.

“There’s no one I’d rather beat than Atlanta because of my brother,” Gerald said. “He’ll be buying two dinners for me after the game. It will just kill him.”

Dominique was just about the only Hawk who shot even reasonably well. He was 10 for 19. The rest of the team was 22 for 72 (30.5%).

The Hawks, who dominated at both ends of the court Saturday and led in rebounds, 70-51, were outrebounded in this one, 51-50.

The presence of Gus Williams, obtained from Washington earlier in the day, didn’t help the Hawks. Obviously rusty, the veteran guard played 19 minutes in his season debut and was only 1 for 7 from the field.

Chicago 99, Cleveland 95--It is now more than 30 games into the NBA season and it may be that the three rookie starters in the Cavaliers’ lineup--Brad Daugherty, John Williams and Ron Harper--are beginning to feel the effects of the long season. Thirty games is nearly a full season in college ball.

The Cavaliers held Michael Jordan to 27 points at Richfield, Ohio, but with victory in their grasp, they faded away in the stretch.

The Cavaliers, leading by four after three quarters, made only one field goal in the last 8:45. They led, 92-91, but Jordan, held under 30 points for only the fifth time this season, sank a 20-foot jumper with 3:39 left to put Chicago ahead to stay, 93-92.

The Cleveland rookie starters contributed only 45 points while playing a total of 111 minutes. From the field, Williams was 2 for 8, Daugherty was 6 for 14 and Harper was 11 for 23. It was the fourth loss in a row for the Cavaliers.

Indiana 101, San Antonio 99--In a stunning victory at Dallas Monday night, Pacer Coach Jack Ramsay said his team played a “perfect” game.

In this one at San Antonio, the Pacers were something less than perfect. They won their fourth in a row, though, because Artis Gilmore was called for goaltending on a short jumper by Vern Fleming with three seconds left in the game.

Before the winning basket, San Antonio’s Alvin Robertson, Johnny Dawkins and Mike Mitchell missed consecutive shots. After Mitchell’s miss, Steve Stipanovich grabbed the rebound with eight seconds left.

Milwaukee 124, New Jersey 112--Ricky Pierce, as he has so often this season, came off the bench to lead the Bucks to victory at Milwaukee.

Pierce, making all seven field goals he attempted in the third quarter, scored 17 of his 27 points in the quarter to break open a close game.

It may have been a costly win. Paul Pressey suffered a dislocated finger and may be out three weeks.

Golden State 118, Houston 100--Sleepy Floyd scored 31 points and had 11 assists at Oakland to lead the Warriors.

The Warriors led by only six points at halftime but a 13-2 spurt helped them build an 85-72 lead after three quarters.

Akeem Olajuwon, held to seven points through three quarters, finished with 15 points.

Sacramento 112, Denver 104--Reggie Theus sank four clutch free throws to trigger a 12-2 King spurt in the last 90 seconds at Sacramento.

A jump shot by Fat Lever gave the Nuggets a 102-100 lead with just less than two minutes left. The Nuggets made only two free throws the rest of the game.

Seattle 138, Phoenix 108--The SuperSonics’ front line of Tom Chambers, Xavier McDaniel and Alton Lister dominated at Seattle to help end a four-game losing streak.