NBA Roundup : Richardson Makes Up for a Struggling Start

Micheal Ray Richardson was the comeback player of the year in the NBA last season. His 20.1 point average was the highest in his seven-year career.

He averaged 8.2 assists and, with Otis Birdsong, led the New Jersey Nets into the playoffs.

Except for a desperation jumper that sent the Nets into overtime in the season opener with the Boston Celtics, Richardson’s play this season has been as poor as in 1983-84.

The talented, if unpredictable, 6-5 guard made amends Wednesday night at East Rutherford, N.J., and barely missed a quadruple-double.

Richardson scored six of his career-high 38 points in the third overtime to lead the Nets to a wild, 147-138 victory over the Indiana Pacers.

Richardson, who scored 16 points in the three overtimes, also had 11 rebounds, 11 assists and 9 steals. In the first three games, two of which the Nets lost, Richardson scored only 35 points, making only 15 of 37 field-goal attempts.

About the only thing Richardson did wrong Wednesday night was to miss a 25-foot jumper at the buzzer ending regulation play. But his brilliance sparked a drive that wiped out a 91-72 lead the Pacers built in the third quarter.

He opened the third overtime with a 22-foot jumper that gave New Jersey the lead for good, 135-133.

The Nets’ Buck Williams also had an outstanding night. He played 55 minutes, one more than Richardson, scored 20 points and had 23 rebounds.

Herb Williams led the Pacers with 28 points. His jumper early in the fourth quarter gave his club a 96-80 lead. But Richardson’s nine points led the New Jersey rally that sent the game into overtime.

Boston 117, Milwaukee 106--Larry Bird regained his shooting touch but also got in early foul trouble at Boston, and it was Dennis Johnson who led the Celtics to victory.

Bird made 7 of 8 shots and scored 20 points in 16 minutes of the first half, but picked up four fouls and sat out the third quarter.

Just before the third quarter ended, Bird, who has had a back problem, went into the dressing room to get warmed up. Although his only points in the last quarter were two free throws, he had four assists as the Celtics held off a belated rally by the Bucks.

Johnson scored seven of his 24 points in a two-minute flurry midway in the fourth quarter. The flurry began when Milwaukee Coach Don Nelson, his team trailing by six points, was hit with two technicals and was ejected. Johnson made one of the two free throws to start his spurt.

Philadelphia 132, Detroit 125--Moses Malone scored seven of his 31 points in overtime at Philadelphia to lead the 76ers to victory. The 76ers missed winning in regulation when Julius Erving, with 16 seconds left, made only one of two free-throw attempts.

Detroit led, 115-113, on Vinnie Johnson’s jumper to open the overtime, but Sedale Threatt sank two jumpers and rookie Terry Catledge hit another to give the 76ers the lead for good.

Utah 102, San Antonio 100--The Spurs, after leading almost all the way, fell apart in the final 6 1/2 minutes at Salt Lake City, and the Jazz rallied to win for the first time in three games.

The Spurs led, 97-88, but had only three points in the final six minutes. Adrian Dantley scored 33 points to lead Utah.