NBA Roundup : Walton Leads Celtics to 10th Straight Victory

The outcome of the game was in doubt until Bill Walton won the opening tap from Manute Bol.

“I like jump balls,” Walton said, “especially against guys 7-foot-7. I haven’t had too many opportunities like that.”

With center Robert Parish sidelined with a stiff neck, Walton got his first start of the season and helped lead the Boston Celtics over the Washington Bullets, 116-97, at Boston Garden Friday night.

Walton scored 13 of Boston’s first 28 points as the Celtics reached 60 victories for the third consecutive year. Walton finished with a season-high 20 points, while Larry Bird scored 27. Walton got 6 of his 12 rebounds in the first quarter.

The Celtics’ 10th straight victory extended to 26 their club record for consecutive home victories. They can tie the NBA single-season mark of 27, set by the Minneapolis Lakers in 1949-50, Sunday against New Jersey.

Boston (60-13) is 35-1 at home.

Milwaukee 116, Philadelphia 94--Ricky Pierce came off the bench to score 31 points, hitting 14 of 18 from the field, as the Bucks won at Philadelphia and knocked two 76ers out of the game.

Moses Malone was hit in the right eye during the first quarter and was taken to Wills Eye Hospital, where he was diagnosed as having a swollen retina. And Bob McAdoo injured his left knee with 6:24 left in the game.

Philadelphia guard Andrew Toney, who has missed most of the season with stress fractures of his feet, played briefly and scored three points. Toney, who was activated Wednesday, has said he is still experiencing pain, but team owner Harold Katz threatened to suspend him if he didn’t start playing.

Detroit 116, Houston 107--The Rockets, who defeated the Indiana Pacers, 110-101, Wednesday night without Ralph Sampson, were unable to beat the Pistons at Pontiac, Mich., without their 7-4 forward. And there was more bad news for the Rockets.

Sampson, who injured his back when he fell while going for a rebound at Boston Monday night, was expected to miss only two games, but Houston Coach Bill Fitch said Sampson probably will miss tonight’s game at Washington.

New Jersey 118, Chicago 107--Mike Gminski scored 26 points, grabbed 12 rebounds and blocked 5 shots and Otis Birdsong added 23 points as the Nets took control in the third quarter to win at East Rutherford, N.J.

The Bulls’ Michael Jordan, playing his best game since returning from a foot injury, finished with 22 points, including an assortment of dunks.

Denver 128, Utah 120--Calvin Natt and Alex English each scored 35 points at Denver as the Nuggets snapped a three-game losing streak and moved with 1 1/2 games of Midwest Division-leading Houston. Adrian Dantley scored 35 for the Jazz.

Atlanta 100, Indiana 92--Dominique Wilkins had 32 points, including four free throws as Atlanta hit seven of eight in the final 1:19, to lead the Hawks at Indianapolis.