Walton goes for 15, 11, 9, and 4 in Garden Return

January 30, 1983

The big news last night was to have been Bill Walton's return to Madison Square Garden after an absence of more than five years. Instead, it was Randy Smith, a former Knick, and Lowes Moore, a Nets' castoff, who hurt the Knicks most in their 106-97 loss to the San Diego Clippers.

The defeat ended the Knicks' winning streak at three games and dropped their season mark to 17-27. At age 30, Walton is making a third comeback because of recurring injuries to his left foot. In 38 minutes, the 6-foot-11-inch Walton, wearing big goggles to protect a cheek bone that was fractured earlier in the season, scored 11 points, had 15 rebounds, nine assists and four blocked shots.

As for the 34-year-old Smith, discarded by the Knicks after last season, he scored a season-high 26 points in his 887th straight game, extending his league record for consecutive games.

''I loved every minute of it,'' said Smith, flashing a revengeful look after he shot 10 for 16 from the field. Smith started the game at the point guard, replacing Lionel Hollins, who had returned to San Diego to be with his wife Angie, who gave birth to their first child, Anthony Michael.

Moore, who wore a uniform with the name ''Douglas,'' played an equally important part in the victory. John Douglas was cut by the Clippers before the start of the season.

Moore was signed to a 10-day contract Friday to replace Craig Hodges, the rookie guard who usually starts alongside Hollins. Hodges suffered a sprained right ankle Thursday night against the Atlanta Hawks. Moore arrived at the hotel 30 minutes before the Clipper team bus left for the Garden. He had come in from Billings, Mont., where he was averaging 21 points a game in the Continental Basketball Association.

Moore played 17 important minutes, shot 4 for 7 and scored 10 points. But his biggest value was his ball handling and ability to break the Knicks' press that brought them back from a 15-point deficit with 3 minutes 43 seconds remaining in the third period.

''Lowes Moore did it all,'' said Paul Silas, the Clipper coach. ''The kid was the whole key. When Hodges went down and we needed a guard, Bob Kloppenberg, my bench asssistant, suggested that we get Moore.''

Kloppenberg was an assistant coach with the Cleveland Cavaliers at the start of the season when Moore tried to make the team. He was cut before the start of the season.

''We didn't have any ball handlers to handle the Knicks' pressure,'' said Silas. ''He beat their traps and picked up the tempo of the handler and a shooter. Before the start of the game, I thought we might be in trouble against the Knicks' press and traps if Randy or Al Wood had to handle the ball. They are shooters, not ball handlers. Moore stepped in and played like a veteran. He took the shots when they were there; he penetrated. He helped win the game for us,''

Praise From Walton

Moore, 25 years old, was the Nets' 1980 third-round draft choice out of West Virginia. He played 71 games for the Nets and averaged 7 points a game during the 1980-81 season and played four games with the Cavaliers the following season before joining Billings.

As Moore walked off the court, Walton put his arm around him and said: ''I'm glad to see you. You took some of the pressure off us.'' ''I have a feel for the open floor,'' said Moore, who played 13 minutes in the second half when the Knicks made several runs at the Clippers but never were able to overtake them. ''I only knew some of the plays, but I just seemed to fit in the flow. What I did tonight is a tribute to the C.B.A. I wasn't even winded.''

The Clippers, who had lost several big leads in the first half, seemed to have finally put the Knicks away with a 24-8 surge for a 73-58 advantage with 3:53 remaining in the third period.

But the Knicks' pressure and traps forced the Clippers into six straight turnovers, including two steals by Sly Williams. The Knicks turned the mistakes into 13 straight points before Moore hit a reverse jumper with nine seconds remaining in the period to make the Clipper lead 75-71.

Knicks Falter Near End

The Knicks kept the game close until three minutes remained, when their offense collapsed and they were outscored, 10-4. Terry Cummings, the Clippers' rookie forward from DePaul, scored 11 of his 23 points in the final period.

Walton played what Silas called ''his second straight strong game.'' After missing the previous two seasons, Walton played part time this season while he attended law school. On Jan. 20, doctors cleared him to play full time.

''I've only played 14 games in the last four years,'' Walton said, ''and when you're not playing, you lose some of your physical ability. I have been trying to come back slowly. Right now, I'm happy the way I have been doing things. I enjoy the high and even the lows. I'm not trying to lot of things now as I used to do. I'm just trying to fit into the team.''

Silas said: ''Bill played pretty good. He was doing the little things, pulled down some tremendous rebounds and passed very well. Right now, he is maybe 70 percent of what he will be. I try to play him at six-minute intervals. We communicate about it. When he wants to come out, he lets me know.''

Bullets 88, Suns 82

LANDOVER, Md., (UPI) - The Bullets recovered from poor shooting in the first period and a 12-point deficit in the third. Rick Mahorn of the Bullets scored a season-high 27 points and got a key basket late in the fourth quarter that helped seal the victory.

With Washington leading, 84-82, Mahorn hit a 3-foot jumper with 54 seconds left that increased the Bullets' lead to 86-82. On the Suns' next possession, Larry Nance was called for an offensive foul, and Ricky Sobers hit two foul shots for Washington with 11 seconds remaining to make the score 88-82.

The Suns, who have lost four straight, were paced by Walter Davis's 20 points, followed by Maurice Lucas with 18, Alvan Adams, 14 and Nance, 12.

Phoenix, now 27-20, held a 63-51 lead late in the third quarter, but the Bullets scored the next 18 points - including the first 6 of the fourth quarter -and took the lead, 69-63.

Phoenix went on an 18-4 streak during the final seven minutes of the first quarter and took a 26-12 lead. The Bullets, who hit on only five of 16 shots in the first quarter, were led by Mahorn's 8 points.

Phoenix led, 46-40, at halftime behind 10 points each by Lucas, Davis and Nance. Washington, now 20-24, fought back late in the second quarter with a 20-8 surge, cutting a 32-19 deficit to 40-39 with two minutes remaining in the half.