Moses Posts 38 and 24, as Sixers Even Season Series

January 31, 1985

SIXERS THUMP CELTICS

You hunt for a clue that will tell you which team is better . . . and there is none.

You wait for the slightest glacial shift to one side . . . and there is none.

Riding the huge shoulders of backboard-eating Moses Malone (38 points, 24 rebounds), the Philadelphia 76ers routed the Celtics, 122-104, in this Town Without Pity last night. It was as thorough and convincing a beating as the one the Celtics handed the Sixers in Boston 10 days earlier.



The season series stands at 2-2, with the home team winning every time. Maybe we could get a better idea of their relative strengths if they met at a neutral site in New Haven, or played the games without refs in an empty Garden or Spectrum.

Philadelphia's victory pulled the Sixers back to within a half-game of the first-place Celtics. The archrivals haven't been separated by as many as two games since Dec. 29.

"This just evens things up for us," said Julius Erving, who scored 15 while holding Bird to 16 (Bird came into the game averaging 38 against Philly this season). "Other than that, there's no overriding significance."

"The home court means a lot during the season," admitted Bird. "But during the playoffs it doesn't mean as much. I don't think you can live and die with any of these. It's a completely different situation in the playoffs."

Philadelphia played an almost perfect game. The 76ers made their first 27 free throws (31 of 32 overall) and committed only one turnover during a 27- minute stretch. Meanwhile, the Celtics were hurt by foul trouble (Robert Parish sat out 10 minutes of the third quarter), poor shooting from the backcourt (Danny Ainge, Dennis Johnson and Carlos Clark shot 11 of 30 collectively) and rebounding deficits (51-38). The Sixers have gathered 33 more rebounds than Boston in the four games between the two teams.

Malone simply inhaled everything that came bounding off the Spectrum glass. He had nine offensive boards and 15 at the defensive end. It was the best rebounding effort by any player in the NBA this season. And he tossed in 16 of 16 from the line en route to his 38 points (Bird's average).

Kevin McHale's summation: "Total relentlessness by Moses Malone; Malone creating a lot of contact; and Malone having the contact go in his favor."

The Celtics were in it for three quarters. There were 12 lead changes in the first half and neither team went ahead by more than five points.

Bird didn't score in the first quarter, but Parish had eight points and four rebounds and the Celtics led, 27-26, after one.

Bird snapped out of his shot slump with five baskets in the final seven minutes of the second quarter, but the Celtics hurt themselves with turnovers. Meanwhile, Sixers reserve guard Clint Richardson ripped off seven straight, and Malone was taking no prisoners underneath. Philly led by three (61-58) at intermission.

Parish picked up his third and fourth fouls in the first 1:38 of the third period.

"It was one of those nights when they were giving (Malone) a lot of protection," said Parish.

After Parish went to the pine with his fourth, DJ tied it for the last time, 67-67. Then Maurice Cheeks paced an 8-2 Sixers run, and the Celtics were forced to play catch-up the rest of the way.

Sensing the kill, Boston Strangler Andrew Toney (17 points) got hot and drilled a three-pointer to make it 91-81 with two minutes left in the third.

It was 97-88 after three. K.C. Jones started Parish in the fourth period, but the Chief picked up No. 5 in less than two minutes. M.L. Carr gave the Celtics a nice pickup (12 points in 13 minutes) and Boston closed to within four once, but DJ starting missing from everywhere and Moses was there to pick up the rebounds. The Celtics were outscored, 25-16, in the final period.

Down by 11 with 5:50 to play, Jones yanked DJ in favor of Carlos Clark. Bird cut it to nine once, but Malone scored on a followup, Clark was called for traveling, and a followup by Clemon Johnson made it 112-99 with 4:10 left.

This time, it was way too late for any buzzer-beating miracle by Bird.