NBA Roundup : Against Bulls, Celtics Look Unbeatable, Also Repeatable, 132-103

Seventeen consecutive National Basketball Assn. champions have failed to repeat. The Boston Celtics are showing signs that they intend to put an end to that streak.

As recently as two weeks ago, it seemed as though the Celtics, hit by injuries that depleted an already weak bench, were not the team to end the jinx. In the absence of Bill Walton and Scott Wedman, the Celtic regulars seemed to be playing too many minutes.

Moreover, Larry Bird and Danny Ainge were experiencing back problems. There was a definite problem trying to win back-to-back games.

Although there is no indication when--or if--Walton or Wedman will return, the Celtics have found a solution. They just build a big early lead, then throw in the subs.

It is working, too. With Bird, Dennis Johnson and Kevin McHale leading the way, the Celtics built a big early lead and breezed to a 132-103 victory over the out-manned Chicago Bulls Wednesday night at Boston. Tuesday night at Chicago, it had been tougher, but the Celtics prevailed, 105-97.

The Bulls’ top player, Michael Jordan, scored 30 points Tuesday night and 27 Wednesday night.

Bird, Johnson and McHale divided up 64 points, and all sat out the fourth quarter as the Celtics won their 11th game in a row at home. It was their fifth consecutive blowout at Boston Garden.

With a 32-11 record, the Celtics are playing the kind of basketball that won the championship last spring. The last team to win back-to-back titles was the Celtics. They won in 1967-68 and repeated the next season. It is no coincidence that the 1968-69 season was the last one for the magnificent Bill Russell.

Philadelphia 109, Cleveland 107--It has been a long road back, but Andrew Toney may have made it. Once one of the top guards in the NBA, Toney was slowed to a walk by injuries, missing all but six games last season and most of the first half of this one.

In his finest moment in three seasons, Toney scored 14 points in the last quarter at Philadelphia to lead the 76ers to victory.

The 76ers trailed, 85-79, after three quarters, but Toney quickly took care of that problem.

It was only the third game back since Toney’s most recent foot problem, and his help was needed when Charles Barkley picked up a second technical and was ejected with 3:10 left in the third period.

Toney, banned from the bench a couple of weeks ago because Coach Matt Guokas said he was a negative influence, has been anything but a negative influence in the last three games.

He has played a total of 64 minutes, moved about freely, scored 53 points and is 18 for 27 from the field.

After his superb performance, Toney told reporters: “No interviews today.” He was asked how he felt after playing 28 minutes. “Sore man, sore,” he said.

Phoenix 131, Golden State 104--Larry Nance scored 19 points in the first half and finished with 29 at Phoenix to help the Suns to a 65-49 lead on the way to an easy victory.

Nance scored six points in an 11-2 spurt at the start of the second quarter to break the game open.

Purvis Short, in only his second game since Nov. 21, had 19 for the Warriors.