C's Win, But List of Walking Wounded Grows

March 27, 1980

CELTICS OUTLAST KNICKS, BUT COWENS REINJURED

In the aftermath, the walking wounded soaked in the solitude of the Celtic trainer's room and the survivors were left to talk not just about beating the fiesty - and still eligible for the playoffs - New York Knicks, 126-121, last night at the Garden, but also about Boston's comeback season.



The Celtics' year has been the greatest turnaround in the NBA since the Milwaukee Bucks forged a 27-55 record in the 1968-69 season to a 56-26 mark the following year. Boston's comeback has been even more impressive - the Celtics have won 30 more games than last season. "Everything started from the beginning because we were a team that stayed together. We are a team that really gets along," said Chris Ford, starting his second game since coming off the injured list last week.

"It's not just 11 players playing. It's 12," he added. With that comment, it was obvious Ford wanted everyone to know that Don Chaney, who is on the injured list, is still a vital part of the team. And it has been a 12-man feeling all along. Chaney, who is sidelined with a groin pull, now has some injured teammates in Dave Cowens and Larry Bird. Cowens reinjured his left big toe, while Bird suffered a deep thigh bruise when he was dumped into a basket support by Toby Knight during a fast break in the first quarter.

With "no tomorrow" written on the final three regular-season games for coach Bill Fitch, the Celtics put together their second straight impressive performance after two straight losses. They are walking hand-in-hand with destiny as they can wrap up the Atlantic Division title tomorrow night against Cleveland - Fitch's old club. The title also could theirs with a Knicks victory over the 76ers tonight.

For last night's story, start with Tiny Archibald, who piled up 29 points and 17 assists and controlled the ball while playing 47 minutes. All that came after he put on a 10-point, 17-assist performance against Washington Tuesday night. "You know, Tiny wasn't feeling well tonight," said Fitch. "And I've never had that much success with ballplayers playing when they're sick. But I had a hunch."

Ray Williams and Michael Ray Richardson, the dynamic backcourt duo for the Knicks, started off the game by executing the fastest transition game in North America. Richardson made it 8-2, Knicks, when he sprinted downcourt for a basket after a Larry Bird miss. Williams (37 points) with a short jumper in the next time down made it 10-2, but Archibald woke up. Turning the transition-game tables, Archibald and Bird (23 points, 13 rebounds) perked up Boston. With 4:45 remaining in the quarter the Celtics began a 21-6 scoring spurt that included Ford's first two three-pointers since his return. The Celtics led, 37-22.

But in the second quarter the Knicks came right back. Knick coach Red Holzman inserted the ageless Earl (The Pearl) Monroe. He and Williams each hit 11 points in the second quarter as the Knicks closed the gap to six, 69-63. "We knew we had to control the boards. I felt like we started playing well after overcoming the shock. You could tell New York came ready to play," said Rick Robey, who contributed some key rebounds down the stretch when he was inserted in the fourth quarter for Cowens.

The Knicks started off in the second half by putting together a 32-point third quarter behind Williams and forward Toby Knight (18 points) who, along with three other Knicks, found himself in foul trouble in the fourth quarter. Bill Cartwright's two free throws with 3:34 remaining in the third quarter sent New York ahead, 86-85, for the first time in the second half. Richardson added a nasty three-pointer at the buzzer to make it 95-91, Knicks.

Enter Pistol Pete Maravich, who continued to keep his mortgage on the fourth quarter. Maravich shot 8 for 10 for the night and scored 12 of his 16 points in the final minutes as he gunned from everywhere in a duel against Monroe, who put in 14 last-quarter points himself. "The thing about this team is that it doesn't rely on any one guy. We look to everyone to contribute down the stretch," said Maravich, whose turnaround 19-foot bank shot made it 119-107 with 2:45 remaining and just about sealed things up.

Which brings us to this morning, the time the Celtics prepare themselves for the Cavaliers game and possibilities of wrapping up everything before Sunday's game with the 76ers.