1986 Cs Lose to Suns, Fall to 41-10

Celtics Lose Focus After Completing Regular Season Sweep of Lakers

The storm was brewing all night. Referee Mike Lauerman and stripe-mate Mike Mathis created an atmosphere that had all the calm and control of the final hours of the Baby Doc Duvalier regime.

And then it happened. Larry Bird was ejected for giving Lauerman too much lip, and the Celtics were on their way to a 108-101 beating last night at the hands of the Phoenix Suns.

Bird scored 18 in the first period, but was taking an early shower when the Celtics fell behind by 17 (92-75) with 9:49 left in the fourth.

Nine seconds earlier, Bird had picked up a technical from Lauerman for grumbling while Mike Sanders tossed some free throws. On the ensuing play, Lauerman ruled that Bird had been fouled (by Ed Pinckney). Bird made a remark that apparently was too strong for Lauerman.

It is an unwritten NBA rule that a superstar must not be ejected unless he breaks somebody else's bones, but Lauerman ignored the secret code and tossed a stunned Bird.

As the final seconds ticked off, Celtic assistant coach Chris Ford hollered toward Lauerman, "MVP Mike. They all (14,519) paid to see you tonight."

"We're not allowed to say what was said," said Mathis, who spoke for Lauerman. "Two technicals for unsportsmanlike conduct calls for ejection. You can assume something was said."

Bird also chose not to comment after the game. He's been tagged with nine technicals this season, but last night marked his first ejection of the 1985-86 campaign.

Bird wasn't the only victim of the Mike Twins. Seconds after Bird was tossed, Celtic coach K.C. Jones was on the floor earning his ejection. Assistant coach Jimmy Rodgers came out to get Jones away from Lauerman, and before you could say "Bob Rakel," Dennis Johnson picked up a tech for good measure. A hail of free throws by Sanders gave Phoenix its 17-point lead.

"You really can't print what I said," said Jones. "But Larry said he never cursed."

The Celts fought back gamely in the final nine minutes, but the heart and soul of the Boston ballclub was putting his flannel shirt and corduroys back on.

"That (Bird's ejection) turned it around and they took it and ran with it," said Jones.

It was an otherwise uneventful evening. By the time they got to Phoenix, the Celtics had convinced NBA America that they were the best team in basketball, and it was predictable that Sunday's nationally televised victory in Los Angeles would be a tough act to follow. It was.

They can complain all they want about the officials, but the Celtics did not play very well. They shot 46 percent, committed 19 turnovers and compiled a season-low 13 assists.

Bird was on fire in the first period, scoring 18 of his 24 points. His starting cornermate was Scott Wedman.

No one wants to make any decisions about Kevin McHale, but apparently Judge Wapner handed down another "don't play" decision. McHale was on the shelf for the 11th time in Boston's last 12 games.

Bird got things going with two lefty shots and a three-pointer, but Sun guards Jay Humphries and Walter Davis (20) rallied the home team, and Phoenix led by three late in the period. The Celts trailed, 28-27, after one.

After a nice effort by Boston's second unit, Phoenix applied some defensive pressure, James Edwards scored seven straight, and the Suns led, 44-40. The Celts roared back with six straight, but Davis and Humphries ran the Suns to a 56-55 halftime lead.

Davis levitated the Suns to a five-point lead (72-67) in the seventh minute of the third period, and the Celts started to look frustrated. They were unhappy with the work of Mathis and Lauerman and vented their wrath as a series of shots clanged off the rim. Baskets by Larry Nance (16 points, 11 rebounds) and Davis made it 76-67 and forced Jones to call time.

Rick Carlisle, Jerry Sichting and Wedman continued to have problems with Phoenix' pressure defense. The Suns exploited a flurry of Boston turnovers and took an 83-71 lead when Rod Foster canned a three-pointer at the end of the third. The Celts committed seven turnovers and shot 32 percent (6 for 19) in the sorry third period.