Cornbread's Knee

February 20, 1985

MAXWELL FACING KNEE SURGERY

What's left of the Celtics flew into Stapleton Airport yesterday afternoon.

Robert Parish, Cedric Maxwell and Quinn Buckner were still in Boston, M.L. Carr was hobbling on a sore ankle, Dennis Johnson was moaning about an aching back, Kevin McHale was phoning home to see if his wife was in labor yet, and coach K.C. Jones was thinking about the possibility of playing the Nuggets tonight (9:30, SportsChannel) with only eight players.



All of the wounded are expected back soon . . . except for Maxwell, who will undergo arthroscopic surgery on his left knee Friday morning.

Maxwell, who didn't play in the Celtics' 110-94 victory over the Utah Jazz Monday night, has had pain in the knee since before the All-Star break. Team physician Dr. Thomas Silva has diagnosed the problem as tendinitis, but the decision for exploratory surgery came yesterday after Maxwell was examined by orthopedic surgeon Dr. Robert Leach. Silva will assist in the operation at University Hospital.

At best, Maxwell could be back with the team in a week to 10 days. However, if cartilage problems are found during the arthroscopic probe, 31- year-old Maxwell could be lost to the team for several weeks.

Tonight's joust concludes a memorable trip. The Celtics were routed in Portland, won a revenge match in the Kingdome, beat the woeful Warriors after falling behind by 15, lost three players and a ballgame in the LA Forum, then bounced back in Utah with one of the more remarkable victories of this or any season.

Boston went to the Salt Palace with only nine players Monday, but jumped on the Jazz, 34-10, in the first 12 minutes. Utah helped out considerably by missing its first 17 shots. The Jazz shot 12 percent (3 of 25) in the first- quarter freezeout.

Boston's victory over the Jazz will long be remembered as the night Larry Bird carried the shorthanded Celtics, while rejecting a chance to register the second quadruple-double in NBA history.

At the end of three quarters, Bird had 30 points, 12 rebounds, 10 assists and 9 steals. He was informed of his chance for statistical immortality, but eschewed personal glory because the Celtics didn't need him for the final quarter.

Winning in Utah guaranteed that the Celtics will return to Boston in first place in the Atlantic Division. They were a game and a half ahead of Philadelphia when they started the trip, and hold the same lead as they prepare to take on the Midwest Division-leading Nuggets.

"That was a big one," Jones said after the Utah game.

"It was so sweet," added Carr, who turned his ankle in the second half.

Carr and Parish had their injured left ankles X-rayed yesterday, and both sets proved negative. Boston thinks Carr might play tonight, and hopes to see Parish playing this weekend. The Celtics could sign a free agent to a 10-day contract if they placed Maxwell on the injured list (minimum five games), but Jones said, "We won't be able to determine what we'll do until after Friday, after the observation.

"I'm also curious about M.L.," added Jones. "His injury may well put us down to eight players, and we know Denver is going to want to run."

The Celtics beat the Nuggets, 123-107, in the Garden Dec. 5, and are 10-1 against Denver since Bird came into the league (1979-80). But beating Denver with eight players will be a lot tougher than winning in Utah with nine. The Nuggets own the league's fifth-best record (34-20) and are 23-6 at home.