Sixers' D Too Much for Green

1983-84 Boston Celtics
Sixers 121-Celtics 114 (OT)
Record: 13-6
12/5/1983

You might find it disturbing to note that the Celtics not only failed to move into first place last night, but have been joined by the New York Knicks in second place in the Atlantic Division standings. That's right. The Celtics and Knicks share second with 13-6 records. If "B" didn't come before "N," the Celtics would look like a third-place club across America today. When it was over, M.L. Carr said: "The bottom line is that Philly played like champions.

They did what they had to do to win the game. I never like to give 'em credit for anything, but you had to tonight." Indeed. The Sixers fought back from a 15-point second- quarter deficit. In the second half, they played the kind of defense that gave Laker coach Pat Riley headaches last spring. Boston shot 26 percent (6-23) in the third quarter and scored only 14 points in the fourth quarter. "The reason we lost was because their pressure defense took us out of our offense in the fourth quarter," said Danny Ainge. The Celtics led, 93-86, with 3:16 left in the game and could not win.

Then came some Celtic turnovers (22 overall) and a Philly surge. "They put pressure on us defensively and forced us into a lot of turnovers with their pressing defense," said K.C. Jones. "The turnovers really hurt us. They were the name of the game."

MISC

Bobby Jones was the unsung MVP. In 31 minutes he scored 19 points, hit seven of 11 floor shots, grabbed five rebounds and stole the ball seven times. His rebound of Andrew Toney's errant three-pointer enabled Toney to get off a second try (which went in, of course) and tie the game at 98-98 . . . The Sixers have been behind in every game but one this year . . . Philly hasn't lost two straight and did so only twice last year . . . The Sixers are now 2-11 n regular season action at the Garden since the start of the 1979-80 season. Philly owns a 24-21 lead in regular season and playoff games against Boston in that same span . . . It was the Celtics first loss (12-1) in a game in which they led after three quarters . . . Boston's turnover count (22) was its second-highest of the season . . . Quinn Buckner has played 11 minutes or less in five of his last six games, while scoring a total of nine points . . . The Celtics longest homestand of the year (five games) is over. Boston plays in Chicago tomorrow night, in Indiana Wednesday, and in Hartford against Denver Friday . . . Philadelphia returns to Boston Jan. 25.