Gamble Sparkles in Win

1990-91 Boston Celtics

He just keeps getting better, and you have to wonder how far Kevin Gamble can take it.

Last night in Boston's 113-86 destruction of the Knicks, Gamble posted what are coming to be sublime, yet routine, numbers. He was 7 for 9 from the field, and the seven baskets were mostly jumpers. He had five assists and four steals. He also had a couple of blocked shots in 36 active minutes. He is shooting 60.7 percent from the field.

"Kevin Gamble is in a groove right now," said coach Chris Ford. "And it's not just his scoring. He's doing the other things like passing, playing defense."

One area of Gamble's game that seems ripe for emergence is his passing. He is becoming adept at making the intelligent dish-off if his drive to the basket is thwarted.

His coach at Iowa, Tom Davis, said recently, "You haven't even begun to see what he can do as a passer. That may be the best part of his game."

LEWIS OFF MARK

Reggie Lewis was the only member of the regular seven-man rotation to be in single figures. He had 7 on 3-for-12 shooting from the field. Lewis is in a bit of a slump, shooting 5 for 24 in his last two games and 17 for 54 in his last four. "I didn't get involved," he said. "I got caught up watching everyone." Lewis said his back is stiff and will continue to be so. "I can't get the proper rest, so I just have to stretch and stretch some more." . . . The game was such a blowout that TNT momentarily switched to Hawks-Clippers. Is that an indictment or what? . . . John Bagley's latest setback is in the hamstring area behind his still sore right knee. "We're going to do some tests on it," said team physician Arnold Scheller. "But it's hard to tell how long he has been bothered. Symptoms wax and wane."

HAPPY REUNION

Brian Shaw's family is in town and will be here through Jan. 11. Shaw totaled 13 points and 10 assists and had a superb third quarter. One of his hoops featured a big-time dunk off a steal. (Why the Celtics were pressing with a 30-point lead is another question.) . . . NBA historians were poring over yellowed newspaper clippings late into the night to determine whether the Dave Popson-Joe Kleine-Stojko Vrankovic front line was indeed the slowest in NBA history . . . The Knicks are 5-8 under John MacLeod; the five victories have been over Miami (twice), the Nets (twice) and the Timberwolves.