NBA ROUNDUP : Suns Put an End to Win Streak of Road-Weary Celtics, 109-105

The road finally caught up with the Boston Celtics Tuesday night at Phoenix.

Playing their fifth game in eight nights on a trip West, the Celtics fell, 109-105, to the Suns.

Boston, which had won its previous seven games, built a 30-18 lead in the first quarter.

But, once again playing without Kevin McHale, their leading scorer who has missed four games with a sprained ankle, the Celtics turned cold in the last quarter.

Kevin Johnson, scoring 15 points in the last quarter, led the Suns’ rally and finished with 25 points and 13 assists. Dan Majerle came off the bench to score 23 points.

When the Celtics embarked on the trip, Larry Bird was a question mark because of a back problem that forced him out for 14 games. The Celtics didn’t know what to expect from their leader.

He was brilliant in the first four games, including a one-sided victory over the Lakers, but he finally turned cold in this one. He was five for 23, and when the Celtics needed his clutch shooting, he didn’t have it.

Nevertheless, it was an impressive trip for the Celtics, who lead the Atlantic Division by 11 1/2 games.

Veteran center Robert Parish, who destroyed the Lakers with 21 points in the first quarter last Friday, was hot again at the start. He had 12 points and 10 rebounds in the first quarter, but the Celtics’ lead was only five.

The Celtics led, 78-69, with 15 minutes left. But Johnson sparked a 7-0 surge and the Boston lead was cut to two before Johnson took charge in the final 12 minutes.

“Our offense killed us all night,” Boston Coach Chris Ford said. “We had turnovers and some poor shot selection. We played hard, but we didn’t play smart.”

Chicago 118, Washington 113--Michael Jordan had 40 points, but the Bulls had to struggle to win a club-record 16th consecutive home game.

The Bullets, only 7-23 on the road, pulled to within 111-108 with 1:33 left on Bernard King’s short jumper. The clubs traded baskets before Jordan, who also had 12 rebounds, sank two free throws to stretch the lead to five.

King scored 25 of his 29 points in the second half when the Bullets fought back from a 52-44 deficit.

A death threat for Jordan was called to the Bulls’ office Monday.

“You can’t ignore it,” he said, “but I won’t let it bother me.”

Philadelphia 107, Seattle 104--Ron Anderson tied the score with a three-point basket late in regulation at Philadelphia. His layup to open the overtime put the 76ers in front to stay.

In his second game with the SuperSonics, Ricky Pierce came off the bench to sink seven of 10 shots and score 18 points in 25 minutes. But Eddie Johnson was five for 16.

Charles Barkley was six for 19, getting 19 points, 13 rebounds and nine assists.

Atlanta 110, New York 102--The Knicks resorted to old form and the Hawks, with Dominique Wilkins scoring 32 points, ended an eight-game road losing streak.

Patrick Ewing had 37 points and 15 rebounds, but the Knicks fell to 11-16 at home.

Portland 107, Dallas 100--Terry Porter scored 23 points and kept making the big basket whenever the pesky Mavericks threatened.

In improving their record at home to 27-2, the Trail Blazers (42-10) remained 3 1/2 games ahead of the Lakers in the Pacific Division. The Trail Blazers play five of their next seven games on the road.

Indiana 115, Charlotte 102--Chuck Person scored 30 points and the Pacers won for the first time in four tries at Charlotte. Reggie Miller had 29 points for the Pacers, who won their third in a row.

New Jersey 97, Sacramento 83--Derrick Coleman scored 19 of his 27 points in the first half and the Nets went in front early and handed the Kings their 20th consecutive loss on the road.

Milwaukee 116, Miami 90--Alvin Robertson had 21 points on eight-for-11 shooting at Milwaukee to lead the Bucks.

Dale Ellis came off the bench to score 17 points.