NBA Roundup : Bucks Beat Pistons Again, 119-110

Age and injuries supposedly had caught up with the Milwaukee Bucks, who opened this season by splitting their first 10 games.

There was reason to question Coach Del Harris’ team. Last season, they lost 11 of their last 15 regular-season games and then were beaten by the Atlanta Hawks in the first round of the National Basketball Assn. playoffs.

But in the last 10 nights, the Bucks have played twice against Detroit and once against the Lakers and won all three games.

The Bucks completed their spurt with a 119-110 victory Wednesday night at Detroit as Terry Cummings scored 7 of his 19 points in the last 4 minutes to thwart a Piston rally.

On Dec. 6 at Milwaukee, the Bucks smashed the Pistons, 109-84, and last Sunday at home, they outlasted the Lakers, 95-94. In none of those games did the Bucks resemble old men with aches and pains.

In this game, it was the Pistons (16-5), who were shaky. Usually a team that plays with few mistakes, the Pistons had 22 turnovers.

Despite a huge edge in rebounding, 56-43, and better shooting, the Pistons lost. It was mainly because Buck backup guards Jay Humphries and Ricky Pierce had big games. Humphries, in 34 minutes, had 21 points and 6 assists. In 21 minutes, Pierce had 19 points and 2 assists.

“I thought we played the best game I ever saw last night against Philadelphia (in a 109-91 victory),” Harris said, “but we might have been better tonight.”

Boston 112, Utah 104--Of course, the Celtics miss their injured star, Larry Bird, but it didn’t look that way against the Jazz.

With Robert Parish playing a dominating game, the Celtics built a 59-48 halftime lead at Boston and coasted to victory. Parish had 21 points and 15 rebounds.

“The Celtics hit some big shots,” Utah’s Karl Malone said, “but we’ve seen them do that often over the years. Like us, they don’t want to lose at home.”

At Boston Garden, the Celtics are 18-0 against the Jazz since the franchise (then in New Orleans) joined the NBA in 1974. It was only the second victory in the last 6 games for the Celtics, who play host to the Lakers Friday night.

Charlotte 115, Indiana 106--Kelly Tripucka scored 28 of his 40 points in the second half at Charlotte, N.C., enabling the surprising Hornets to get their sixth victory. The expansion team has won more games than Indiana, Washington or Sacramento so far this season.

Former UCLA star Reggie Miller scored on a layup with 4:37 left to give Indiana a 99-98 lead. But the Hornets scored the next 8 points and won going away.

Rik Smits and Wayman Tisdale each had 19 points for the Pacers.

Atlanta 103, Philadelphia 96--Dominique Wilkins scored 30 points, and the Hawks ended a 2-game home losing streak.

Atlanta struggled most of the way, but Reggie Theus sank a jumper with 3 minutes left in the third quarter to put Atlanta ahead to stay, 75-73.

Glenn Rivers, who scored all 10 of his points in the second quarter, didn’t think his team played well.

“Nobody did a good job,” he said. “But we stayed close and had enough for a couple of late spurts.”