NBA Roundup : Not Even Hawks Are a Match for Celtics

Victories were becoming so easy for the Boston Celtics, they were actually looking forward to Friday night’s game at Boston with the powerful Atlanta Hawks.

The Hawks proved no tougher than Golden State or Phoenix or any of the other teams the Celtics have been trouncing lately.

With Danny Ainge extending his three-point baskets streak to 22 consecutive games and Larry Bird leading a third-quarter surge that broke the game open, the Celtics routed the Hawks, 124-106.

It was the seventh win in a row for the Celtics, who have won 17 of their last 19. It was the sixth time in a row at Boston Garden the Celtics won by 16 or more points. It shouldn’t have come as a surprise, because the Celtics at home have beaten the Hawks 11 times in a row.

Bird scored 14 of his 27 points in the third quarter as the Celtics stretched a 10-point halftime lead to 95-75.

The Hawks, who came into the game holding opponents to 99.2 points per game, had won 12 of their last 15 and taken over first place in the Central Division.

But Dominique Wilkins, who averaged 37.3 points in the previous three games, couldn’t provide the spark for the Hawks. Wilkins had only 23 points, making just 8 of 24 shots, and had only 4 rebounds.

Ainge was 3 for 7 from long range, but overall the Celtics, who have been shooting out the lights with three-pointers, were only 4 for 12.

“The way we’re playing right now, if we get it going, we’re capable of beating anybody by 20 points,” said Kevin McHale, after contributing 24 points and 12 rebounds.

“If you can get them out of their rebounding game, you can run on them. That’s what we did.”

The Hawks didn’t impress their coach.

“I don’t think we came out too worked up,” Mike Fratello said. “We lacked determination.

“Still, I thought we had a chance if we came out early in the third quarter and made a run.”

Ainge is enjoying his record streak. “I’m going for Joe DiMaggio’s record,” he laughed. “I plan on getting at least four or five shots a game, so maybe I can get to 56 games in a row.”

Chicago 118, Phoenix 108--Michael Jordan put on a show at Chicago. The league’s scoring champion scored 17 of his 42 points in the third quarter when the Bulls broke it open.

Jordan scored 12 of them in a 22-11 run after the Suns rallied for a 59-59 tie early in the third quarter.

Jordan, who was 17 for 25 from the field, also had 13 assists.

Indiana 113, New Jersey 104--About the surest thing in basketball is that the Nets will lose on the road. They ran their losing streak away from home to 23 at Indianapolis.

The Nets, the only NBA team that hasn’t won on the road, are 0-15 this season. The Pacers ran up a 20-point halftime lead and breezed.

Washington 115, Golden State 91--Manute Bol blocked 10 shots, scored 6 points and had 10 rebounds in just 15 minutes at Landover, Md., and the Bullets remained unbeaten at home under new Coach Wes Unseld.

It was the fifth win in a row at home for the Bullets.

Utah 119, San Antonio 106--Karl Malone had 28 points and grabbed 17 rebounds in a romp at Salt Lake City.

Portland 126, Denver 106--One night after an exciting win over the Lakers, the Nuggets were no match for the Trail Blazers in Portland. Clyde Drexler scored 39 to lead the rout.

Seattle 109, Detroit 106--Dale Ellis climaxed a career-high 47 points with two free throws in the last 10 seconds at Seattle to clinch the win for the SuperSonics.