McHale Provides a 42-Point Encore to 56-Point Outing

March 6, 1985

There is no sport in beating the Knicks these days. It's like stealing from the blind, invading Amish country, or poking fun at Howard Cosell.

This is the mean season in New York. The Knicks are weakened, wounded and have been embarrassed by the Celtics on and off the basketball court all season.



The Celtics made it five straight over their New York cousins last night, beating the Knicks, 110-102. Boston leads Philadelphia by 2 1/2 games, the largest Atlantic Division lead since Dec. 21.

Kevin McHale continued his Wilt Chamberlain imitation (42 points), Larry Bird had another triple-double (20 points, 19 rebounds, 10 assists) and Ray Williams (six minutes, zero points) made a quiet return to Madison Square Garden.

There was also a memorable fourth-quarter spectator brawl (shades of Red Sox-Yankees), but, otherwise, this was little more than a 48-minute Garden warmup act for the Big East Tournament, which starts tomorrow. Boston's lead never approached blowout proportions (the Knicks cut it to five late in the fourth), but it seemed that there was never any doubt about the outcome.

"The score was closer than it really seemed," admitted Bird. "Every time they made a run, we got a couple of quick baskets."

The already depleted last-place Knicks played without Pat Cummings (back injury) and James Bailey (flu), then lost Louis (Gandhi) Orr to an ankle injury in the first half.

"It's the saga of the season," shrugged Knicks coach Hubie Brown. "It never ceases to amaze me. We can't beat anybody without King, Cummings and Orr all scoring."

The ever-cocky Celtics had trouble taking the Knicks seriously, and (in the wake of the Williams heist) Red Auerbach and Jan Volk had to fight back their smirks from the loge level. They looked like a couple of bold bank thieves returning to the scene of the crime and requesting change for a $10 bill.

McHale enjoyed himself more than any Celtic. He started out looking at Orr's skeletal frame, and later destroyed immortals named Ken Bannister and Eddie Wilkins. On the heels of his franchise-best 56-point effort Sunday, McHale repeatedly beat Knicks defenders down the floor to the tune of Lionel Richie's "All Night Long." He had 14 after one, 27 at intermission, and made 10 of his first 11 floor shots.

"It was just one of those things," said McHale (15 of 21 from the floor). "They didn't have all their guys, and our guys were making the passes to me. I just started shooting the ball."

Bird came out guarding Bernard King (38 points) at one end and torching the Knicks at the other (Bird outrebounded King, 14-0, in the first half). He hit three perimeter bombs and a couple of free throws to push the Celtics to a quick 12-4 lead. McHale took over from there, scoring eight straight over Gandhi, and forcing Hubie to try Bannister.

With 2:37 left in the first, Williams replaced Dennis Johnson, and the Garden crowd roared its approval. Williams picked up a quick assist (feeding Danny Ainge), then missed a three-pointer from the left corner. Ray-Ray played only five minutes in the first half, then returned for a minute of fourth- quarter crunch time.

Boston led, 32-25, after one, and K.C. Jones tried more subs early in the second. They quickly surrendered the lead. Two free throws by King tied it (34-34) with 8:33 left in the half.

The Celtics were sluggish and inattentive for the rest of the period (six missed free throws in the quarter), and New York took a 47-45 lead when King converted a three-point play. Boston responded with nine in a row and never trailed again.

The Celtics led, 58-51, at the half, and pushed it to 70-58 early in the third. It was clear that they were having trouble taking the Knicks seriously. Bird chided Wilkins while the rookie attempted a free throw, then laughed when Wilkins heaved an airball.

The Celtics led, 83-72, after three. When Bannister cut it to 85-79 early in the fourth, Jones called time to spank his careless troupe. Boston got back on track and led by 11 with 8:22 left.

The fesity Knicks cut it to five (90-85 with 5:50 left) again, but the Celtics ran it back up to 100-89 and cruised home in a hail of free throws.