10.09.2018

C's Make it 4-0

November 6, 1982

C's Make it 4-0

Some nights the Celtics make it look so easy. Then there are the times when clubs like the Washington Bullets give them a strong reminder that nothing really does come that way in the NBA.



With Larry Bird scoring 21 points and Robert Parish 20, Boston made it four victories in a row by topping the Bullets, 104-97, last night before 15,320 at the Garden.

For most of the game, this one seemed like a breeze. Washington fell behind by 17 points in the first half and 18 in the second, and this had the promise of an old-fashioned blowout.

But the Celtics almost got caught in a fourth-quarter rush by the Bullets. With 2:54 left, nobody was lighting up cigars for Boston. Washington had cut the lead to 97-91 and had its three-point gunners, Frank Johnson and Billy Ray Bates, primed for action.

The Celtics put their starters back on the floor, and the outcome was still in doubt until the final seven seconds. With 10 seconds left, Washington cut the lead to 100-97 on a three-point basket by Bates and called a timeout.

Cedric Maxwell was fouled and sank two free throws with nine seconds left. But the Bullets set up another three-point play, only to see it backfire when Parish stole the ball from Jeff Ruland.

Bird got the ball and wound up sinking two free throws for the final seven-point margin.

Greg Ballard had 20 points for Washington (2-3). Bates had 15 points off the bench. Johnson had nine points and a career high 15 assists.

The Celtics found themselves without two veterans at the start of the game. Danny Ainge had the flu and did not suit up. Gerald Henderson was suffering from a strained hip bruise, and except for a token appearance in the second quarter to keep his streak alive, was not available for duty, so Charles Bradley took over the starting guard spot.

Washington had its problems, too. Veteran Spencer Haywood (sprained right calf muscle) was benched in favor of Ruland.

From the opening tap, it was clear that if the Bullets were going to keep up, they had to do something about the Celtics' fast break. They did for a time, and for a quarter stayed within six to eight points. It was a different story in the second quarter, when Boston's superior bench strength began to break things open.

Led by Quinn Buckner (11 points) and Kevin McHale (10), the Celtics raced to a 17-point lead late in the period before settling for a 59-43 edge at halftime.

Boston opened the game with a blistering pace, racing to a 12-4 lead. Tiny Archibald had two baskets in the run, and Bird brought the crowd to its feet with a delicious reverse layup. When Washington began to catch up, the Celtics switched their attack to the inside, and Parish went to work, scoring eight points. Washington kept climbing back, and early in the second period trailed by only four points (26-22). But it was a downhill ride for Washington after that.

This run started with a layup by Parish and four straight points by Bird, including another reverse layup. With a 32-22 lead, coach Bill Fitch went to his bench, and then things really began to happen. It was still a 10-point game before Boston went on a 10-2 spurt for a 42-24 lead.

Again the Bullets made a bid, and with 6:20 left, trailed by 10 points again, 42-32. But then Buckner, the shooting guard with Archibald on the bench, warmed up for eight of his 11 points. McHale hit two tough baskets inside, and Boston shot to a 55-38 lead with 1:23 left before settling for a 59-43 lead at the half.

Bird led Boston with 13 points. Mahorn had 10 for Washington. So effective was the Celtics' running game that the Bullets didn't get a free throw for the first 17 minutes of the contest, and the only reason they were close at half was that they sank seven of eight in the second quarter.

The Celtics kept a big lead entering the final period, 80-69. But the third quarter had some added excitement when centers Mahorn and Parish got into a shoving match with about two minutes left. Tempers flared, but neither man was ejected.

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