NBA ROUNDUP : Career Twilight Brighter for Piston Center Edwards

A year ago, James Edwards was playing about 15 minutes a game as a backup center for the Detroit Pistons. At 34, he felt pretty good about finally playing on a championship team.

Then the Pistons lost Rick Mahorn in the expansion draft, making Edwards more important.

Once Detroit moved him into the lineup as a forward, it started to roll. The Pistons were 7-5 while Coach Chuck Daly tried to find the right combination up front.

With Edwards as a starter, they are 42-8 and are making a runaway of the Central Division.

Edwards, nine for 13 from the field, had 21 points and seven rebounds to lead Detroit to a 106-81 romp Friday night in Chicago. By winning for the 23rd time in the last 24 games, the Pistons increased their lead over the Bulls to eight games.

Michael Jordan, who jammed his thumb in a fall in the second quarter, had only 20 points.

Boston 130, Orlando 127--The Celtics trailed most of the game at Orlando and were eight points behind going into the last quarter. Larry Bird scored 20 of his 46 points in the last quarter.

The Celtics did not take the lead for good until Bird sank a 15-foot jump shot to make it 129-127 with 27 seconds remaining.

Philadelphia 119, New Jersey 110--The 76ers built a 19-point lead in the third quarter at Philadelphia but had to fight to prevail.

A 14-0 run brought the Nets even with 5:47 to play. Then Hersey Hawkins made two free throws and Derek Smith and Charles Barkley followed with baskets.

The victory put the 76ers into a virtual tie for first in the Atlantic Division with the fading New York Knicks.

Phoenix 129, Miami 103--With Tom Chambers scoring 36 points before injuring a hamstring in the third quarter, the Suns won their 19th consecutive home game.

Although they are in third place in the Pacific Division, the Suns are three games behind the Lakers.

Atlanta 106, Indiana 104--Moses Malone had 27 points and 11 rebounds and hit two free throws with 12 seconds left in overtime to seal the victory at Indianapolis. Atlanta’s Dominique Wilkins, bothered by a hamstring injury, did not play.

Dallas 104, Denver 97--Derek Harper, who sprained his left shoulder in the third quarter, scored 12 of his 26 points in the fourth quarter at Dallas to keep the Mavericks on top.

Harper, after receiving treatment, went from the locker room to the floor to pick up the Mavericks’ faltering offense.

Portland 124, Charlotte 109--The Trail Blazers romped to their eighth victory in a row against the Hornets, who are 1-29 on the road.

Kevin Duckworth had 24 points and Clyde Drexler had 22 for Portland.