Ainge Shines Bright Back Home

January 3, 1983

HAPPY AINGE SHOWS HIS STUFF

A year ago, he made a token appearance before the fans who watched him as a college star at Brigham Young. Those days are behind Danny Ainge now, and he is enjoying his status as a starter for the Celtics.



Ainge had one of his finest outings of the year on Saturday night in Boston's 127-112 victory over the Utah Jazz. Ainge finished with 16 points and was at his best in the third quarter, when he and center Robert Parish combined for 21 of Boston's 34 points.

"I'm happy about the way I'm playing this year," said Ainge. "I've been put into games at crucial times, and that has built my confidence. When you play for the Celtics, that is what it is all about."

The spurt by Ainge and Parish proved to be necessary against the pesky Jazz, who, despite playing without veteran Adrian Dantley, made two strong runs at Boston. The Celtics had a strong start, going ahead by 17 points in the first 10 minutes, 38-21. But then Utah came roaring back for a 26-8 run to take the lead at 47-46. The Celtics responded with nine straight points, and went on to a 65-60 lead at halftime.

The Jazz made another run in the third quarter before Ainge, Parish and Larry Bird warmed up to help the Celtics pull away again. Ahead, 83-77, Boston went on a 16-3 tear in the final 4 1/2 minutes of the period for a 99-80 lead, and coasted the rest of the way. Parish scored eight straight points at the end of the third period, and looked like an all-star center.

"I don't know about that," said the Chief. "But I'm feeling better these days, and I think I'm on the right track."

Bird hit only 6 of 17 shots and finished with 14 points. But those 14 points gave him another "triple-double," as he also chipped in 15 rebounds and 11 assists. Bird played 37 minutes, longer than any Celtic, and was bothered by what he later said was a charley horse. "I had told coach Fitch that I wanted to play," said Bird, "because if I came out, I wasn't going to go back into the game."

Balance was the key to the Celtics performance. They wound up with seven players in double figures and controlled the boards, 55-46. "We had a little letdown in the second period," said Rick Robey, "but we were able to control the boards, and thus the tempo of the game."

"Ainge played very well," said Utah coach Frank Layden, "but then so did all the Celtics. The key for them has to be their bench. They've got nine players who contribute, and we sometimes don't have nine players who get into the game."

The Celtics will resume this western swing tomorrow in Houston against the Rockets (9:05 p.m., Ch. 4) with the first of three games in Texas.