NBA Roundup : Already, the Races Are All but Over

The National Basketball Assn. will add two new franchises next season and two more the following season.

It probably won’t do anything to help a league that is already unbalanced.

In the Pacific Division, with some 20 games remaining, three teams are more than 30 games behind the first-place Lakers. In the Atlantic Division, the Boston Celtics lead by 16 1/2 games.

The only truly competitive division is the Central Division, in which all six teams will probably qualify for the playoffs.

There are seven teams who have won five or fewer games away from home in a season that is three-quarters completed.

The Sacramento Kings are a prime example. The Kings were in Milwaukee Tuesday night and, with Paul Pressey leading the way, the Bucks romped to a 108-97 victory. The Kings, who long ago lost any hope of making the playoffs, are 4-27 on the road.

Pressey had 17 points, 8 rebounds, 9 assists and 5 steals as the Bucks improved to 35-26. In the Central Division, that record is good only for fourth place.

The fourth consecutive defeat dropped the Kings 25 games behind the Dallas Mavericks in the Midwest Division.

The Kings are 1-4 since Jerry Reynolds took over from Bill Russell as coach. They committed 25 turnovers.

“What can I say?” asked Reynolds. “The better team won. We played fairly well in the first half, but we have a long way to go to become competitive.”

Boston 119, Indiana 113--When Larry Bird visits Indianapolis, his hometown fans expect him to put on a show. He rarely disappoints them.

Bird scored 17 of his 34 points in the third quarter to bring the Celtics from behind to their sixth consecutive victory.

The capacity crowd of 16,912 included many from Bird’s hometown, French Lick, and a large number from Terre Haute, where he went to college.

“It’s a little different than most places we go,” Bird said. “We appreciate the support we get around here. There are a lot of people that like the Celtics. It’s tough for the Pacers, but we enjoy it.”

Bird, who has scored 128 points in the four games in which he has worn protective goggles, was 8 for 12 in the second half.

“Bird always has something left when it gets down to the nitty-gritty,” Indiana Coach Jack Ramsay said. “He did it again. He’s just a great player.”

Chicago 108, Cleveland 89--Michael Jordan scored 12 of his 38 points in an 18-6 spurt in the second quarter that started the Cavaliers on their way to their 10th consecutive defeat on the road.

Sam Vincent, the new guard opposite Jordan, is beginning to fit right in with the scoring leader. Vincent, playing only his seventh game with the Bulls, had a career-high 18 points and 11 assists.

The Cavaliers, who expected to soar when they obtained Larry Nance from the Phoenix Suns, are in danger of missing the playoffs. The defeat left them just two games ahead of the New York Knicks in the fight for the final spot in the East.

The Bulls had a 51-32 rebounding edge. Charles Oakley led the team with 14.

Atlanta 104, Philadelphia 90--When Dominique Wilkins has to shoulder the scoring burden, the Hawks usually have to struggle.

It’s when he gets help that the Hawks win in a breeze. With Kevin Willis having what Coach Mike Fratello described as his best game of the season, the Hawks romped at Atlanta.

Wilkins was only 10 for 31 from the field and had 26 points. Willis was 10 for 17 and had 22 points and 10 rebounds.

Phoenix 111, Seattle 90--The Suns enjoyed one of their finest games in this victory at Phoenix.

Eddie Johnson scored 27 points, and the Suns ended a nine-game losing streak. The highlight, though, was the Suns’ defense, which held the SuperSonics to 33 points in the second half.

Tyrone Corbin, recently obtained from Cleveland, scored 18 off the bench for the Suns. Dale Ellis scored 38 points, but only four other SuperSonics scored.