Bill Walton (22 points, 5 blocks) Leads Clippers Over Celtics

February 25, 1983

Bill Walton (22 points, 5 blocks) Leads Clippers Over Celtics

By the time they get to Phoenix, the Celtics are going to wish they'd never invaded the territorial limits of the Pacific Division.



Looking tired and old after Wednesday night's heroic victory in Los Angeles, the Celtics were bodyslammed by the San Diego Clippers, 122-107, last night.

With five games down and one to go, the Celtics are 2-3 on this 14-day junket. Oddly enough, Boston's beaten the two teams generally considered toughest in the division: Seattle and LA.

The Clippers looked like the Best of the West last night. Administering the second-worst beating Boston has suffered all season, San Diego shot 58 percent (50 for 86) from the floor and refused to let the Celtics back in the game after taking a lead early in the second quarter.

"That's about as well as anybody has played against us as a team," said Robert Parish, who led the losers with 20 points and 10 rebounds.

The Celtics were simply no match for the 20-37 Clippers. Led by cover-boy rookie Terry Cummings (25 points, 14 rebounds), Lionel Hollins (24) and the born-again Bill Walton (22 points, five blocks), San Digeo took charge early in the second quarter and never trailed in the last 36 minutes.

It was a beating so thorough that Bill Fitch was able to rest all of his main men after the Celtics went down by 18 at the end of three. San Diego led by as many 20 (113-93) with 2:43 left in the game.

In the crucial third quarter, the Clippers outscored the Celtics, 33-21. They finished with a 14-4 run to take a 92-74 lead. It all started after a couple of jumpers by Parish had brought the Celtics to within eight at 78-70.

Randy Smith (basketball's Iron Horse played his 898th consecutive game) got it going with a 15-foot jumper, then Hollins hit from 18 feet. After a bucket by Bird, Cummings scored two baskets underneath. The crowd (capacity 13,838) erupted and Fitch tried a timeout, but when play resumed, Walton banked one in to make it 88-72.

The indignities weren't over. After a turnaround by Parish, Walton scored on a hook and Smith hit a foul line jumper with four seconds left in the quarter. The Celtics were down by a whopping 18.

The fourth quarter was pure garbage time. Parish sat out the entire 12 minutes, and Bird played only 48 seconds. Charles Bradley, Scott Wedman, M. L. Carr and Co. mixed it up with Lowes Moore, Jim Brogan, etc. You get the idea.

"I just wanted to find a combination that had some energy," said Fitch. "Everybody I had on the bench was tired."

Fitch wasn't upset with his tired troupe, though. He toasted the victors and acknowleged that this game was won by the Clippers more than it was lost by the Celtics.

"Our main goal was to smother their rebounders so they couldn't make the long-court passes," said San Diego coach Paul Silas. "When we got the lead we were patient offensively, ran our usual stuff and it worked."

Walton and Cummings were superb. Walton reminded everyone why there is still argument that he could have been the greatest center of all time. He hit 10 of 14 floor shots, dished out 5 assists and orchestrated the switch-offs and positioning on the defensive end.

Cummings displayed his awesome skills and uncommon poise, hitting 11 of 19 from the floor and grabbing a game-high 14 rebounds.

"If they played that way night in and night out, they'd have 40 wins," said Fitch.

"This game gave us a lot of confidence," added Walton. "It showed us we can play with any team in the NBA. We're learning how to win."