NBA Roundup : Cavaliers Defeat Nets, 114-100, to Gain Playoff Berth

At the final buzzer Tuesday night, an ecstatic George Karl was lifted high into the air by his players and carried off the Richfield Coliseum court in triumph.

Things have changed. Earlier this season, the Cleveland Cavaliers’ rookie coach said, he might have been “thrown to the wolves after a 2-19 start.”

Tuesday night, Karl’s charges achieved the coach’s wildest dreams--gaining a playoff berth for the first time in seven seasons and only the fourth time in the team’s 14-year history with a 114-100 victory over the New Jersey Nets at Richfield, Ohio.

“I just hope everybody understands what a tremendous, great effort this was,” said Karl, who was greeted by cheers from the crowd of 10,185 as he rode atop the shoulders of Roy Hinson.

“It’s a special feeling. But it was luck this year; next year we’ll really earn it. Making the playoffs was a miracle.”

World B. Free agreed.

“We had help from God tonight,” said the Cavaliers’ veteran guard, who scored a game-high 35 points. “Amazing. I’m speechless, and I can’t remember the last time that happened.”

The win gave the Cavaliers the eighth and last playoff berth in the Eastern Conference.

Washington 130, Atlanta 110--Cliff Robinson scored 31 points and Jeff Malone added 22 to lead the Bullets to the lopsided win at Landover, Md.

The loss was the Hawks’ 17th in the last 24 games and, combined with Cleveland’s victory over New Jersey, eliminated the Hawks from playoff contention. Atlanta has qualified for postseason play the last three seasons.

Washington, already assured a playoff spot, moved into a tie with New Jersey for the fifth position in the Eastern Conference standings. The club that finishes sixth must open the playoffs against Philadelphia; the fifth-place finisher meets Detroit.

Atlanta was led by Dominique Wilkins, who scored 27 points.

Philadelphia 113, Boston 104--The 76ers got 22 points from Moses Malone, 18 from Julius Erving and 16 apiece from Clint Richardson and Maurice Cheeks as they beat the Celtics at Philadelphia.

The victory gave Philadelphia a split of the season series, with each team winning its three games at home.

Houston 124, San Antonio 103--The Rockets, who got 18 points from Rodney McCray, clinched third place in the Western Conference with the win at Houston.

Artis Gilmore led San Antonio, the Rockets’ probable first-round playoff opponent, with 29 points, and Mike Mitchell added 26.

Detroit 107, New York 97--Kelly Tripucka and Bill Laimbeer each scored 23 points as the Pistons recovered from a miserable shooting performance in the first half to beat the Knicks at New York and clinch a home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs.

Isiah Thomas had 16 points and 19 assists, giving him 1,073 assists for the season. He needs 27 assists in Detroit’s last three games to break Kevin Porter’s NBA single-season record of 1,099.

Kansas City 117, Dallas 105--Mike Woodson scored 27 points and Eddie Johnson added 25 off the bench in leading the Kings past the Mavericks at Kansas City.

Center LaSalle Thompson collected 21 points for Kansas City, which defeated Dallas for the first time since March 3, 1984.

Mark Aguirre scored 28 points for Dallas.

Portland 116, Phoenix 100--Kiki Vandeweghe poured in 27 points--all in the second and third quarters--to help the Trail Blazers roll past the Suns at Portland.

Mike Sanders led Phoenix with 19 points.