Arizona Republic from Phoenix, Arizona • Page 79

REPUBLIC The Arizona Republic Sunday, October 31, 1982 76ers rally past Nets; Cheeks has 2 1 assists Suns find reserve strength NBA Hurt Reprinted from Saturday' laic editions By Norm Frauenheim Republic Stuff SAN DIEGO -The Suns' pre-season emphasis on reserve strength paid off on the first day of the regular season Friday night with a 113-99 victory over the San Diego Clippers at the Sports Arena. The combined efforts of David Thirdkill and Johnny High one a rookie and the other a washout last year saved the Suns from a loss. Phoenix found itself trailing by two points early in the fourth quarter after leading by 18 early in the second quarter. The Clippers were doing it with guards Randy Smith and Lionel Hollins. They weren't with the club two days ago.

Then there was center Bill Walton, probably the world's tallest commuter. Walton, a law student at Stanford University, is playing with the club once a week until the semester ends in January. This pickup team was whipping the seasoned, stable Suns at everything until High and Thirdkill replaced Kyle Macy and Dennis Johnson with 9:22 left and Phoenix leading, 86-85. Their defense stopped the Clippers cold. "San Diego just dominated the third quarter because we weren't putting any pressure on the Suns coach John MacLeod, who promised during the exhibition season that his bench would get a lot of work.

"We had to stop them where it started and that was in the backcourt. Johnny and David did it." It took the pair less than two minutes to put the Suns back in control. During the C6 seconds after they entered the game, the Suns reeled off seven unanswered points, four by center Alvan Adams and three by forward Maurice Lucas, who had 24 points and 1 1 rebounds. "We knew that we had to put a lot of pressure on their guards the minute we came in," said Thirdkill, the Suns' No. 1 draft pick from Bradley University.

"I knew I was going to have to play both ends of the court more than ever in this league." The Suns had trouble containing second-year forward Tom Chambers, who played the entire 48 minutes. He had a field day during the third quarter, getting most of his 29 points and 16 rebounds during that stretch. "I was happy the way we played," said Clippers coach Paul Silas. "The way it was tonight was impossible. We had so many new people and we really weren't sure what we were doing most of the time." Hollins was traded from Philadelphia Thursday and didn't arrive here until Friday afternoon.

Smith, who was with the Knicks last year, signed as a free agent late Thursday. Walton, who is attempting a comeback after two years of retirement with a foot injury, was impressive with 20 points and nine rebounds. The Suns meet the Nuggets in Denver tonight. Republic Sports Wires PHILADELPHIA Julius Erving scored 36 points, and Maurice Cheeks handed out 21 assists as the Philadelphia 76ers rallied in the final four minutes and beat the New Jersey Nets, 110-99, Saturday night. The 76ers trailed, 95-94, with 5:07 remaining when Erving converted two free throws, giving Philadelphia the lead for good at the 4:48 mark.

Philadelphia then outscored the Nets 14-4 and won its second game in two starts this season. It was the first loss for the Nets, who won their opener Friday night. Moses Malone, the 6-foot-10 center who signed a six-year, $13 million contract with the Sixers after being acquired from the Houston Rockets, scored 13 points and had 13 rebounds. He also blocked seven shots in his Spectrum debut before a sellout crowd of 18,482. The 7Cers led, 98-97, with 4:02 remaining and then pulled away on field goals by Malone, Cheeks, Erving and Bobby Jones.

Albert King topped the Nets with 28 points. New Jersey, which trailed by 13 points in the first period, rallied and tied the game at 9:47 of the third, and raced to an eight-point lead at 4:09 of the period. But the Sixers only trailed by one, 83-82, after three quarters. The Nets had the lead four times in the final period before falling. Cheeks' 21 assists tied a Spectrum record set by Wilt Chamberlain on Feb.

2, 1968, against Detroit. Celtics 11 2, Hawks 97 ATLANTA Larry Bird and Cedric Maxwell scored 21 points each, sparking Boston to its second straight victory. Robert Parish, Nate Archibald and Kevin McHale each scored 17 points for the Celtics. Parish had 17 rebounds and Bird 14. Atlanta's Dan Roundfield and Dominique Wilkins scored 22 points each.

The attendance of 13,419 was an opening-night record for the Hawks. nba must ok Flagstaff runner captures title in 30K race McAdoo pact with Lakers On deck United Press International Ed Mendoza of Flagstaff won top men's honors Saturday, and Ellen Hart of Boulder, won top women's honors and broke the U.S. record in her class in the Lincoln Magical 30K Race in Phoenix. Mendoza was the first to reach the finish line, timed in 1:35.37, and he also took top honors in his age class, 20-29 years old. Hart was the leading female runner, setting a 30K record of 1:47.30, and took top honors in her age group, 20-29 years old.

Other winners: 14 years and under Aza Sales, Phoenix, 15-19 Tim Price, Flagstaff, 30-39 John Anderson, Eugene, 1:36.59, and Sharon Niblock, Littleton, 40-49 years Bill Foulk, Tempe, 1:49.08, and Betty Ratley, Scottsdale, 2:32.05. SAUEQPT040M HE17 JET LIFT TOUGHS. Plus, we pay freight to your door, rr-rv SALES viiS SERVICE ftsM? Wranglers' missing link may be BYU's Edwards CART BEFORE HORSE? Arizona's entry in the United States Football League has a nickname and uniforms. It has tickets for sale. It has a Cpntral Avenue office.

It has a dozen employees, including a vice president in charge of football operations and a vice president in charge of non-football operations. What the Arizona Wranglers don't have is a coach or general manager. Of the 12 USFL franchises, only Arizona, Detroit and Tampa Bay don't have head coaches. Wranglers owner Jim Joseph plans to hire a coach early in December. The timing points to a college coach.

Conversation has centered on LaVell Edwards, highly respected Brigham Young coach. Joseph and Edwards talked in Utah in late September. At the time, Edwards wasn't too excited about the Wrangler job. Of course, he wasn't too excited about anything then. BYU just had dropped a 39-3S decision to Air Force.

John Ralston, coach of the Oakland Invaders and a good friend of Joseph's, confides that the Arizona owner is thinking of a college coach. But why would an established coach like Edwards leave a solid college position for the USFL, whosej future is hazy beyond the life of a two-year television contract? Would it be money? "It isn't salary," said Ralston. "You're thinking of creating something that's good for the entire profession. It's one more level up in the coaching progression. You move into a position where you coach football the entire year without worrying about recruiting and financial problems." If you say so.

STRIKING CROWD STATS Many contend that professional football has reduced college crowds severely in metropolitan centers. If that's so, then the NFL strike should bring fans back to college stadiums. But it hasn't. Not that you can notice. Tim University of Washington's average home attendance is up 2,496 to 55,873 but the highly rated Huskies have yet to sell out their stadium.

Georgia Tech crowds are up 3,200 a game to 41,300. Miami Dolphin fans can be found sailing and fishing and sunning themselves. At least they can't be found at University of Miami games. The Hurricanes average 28,948 in the Orange Bowl (capacity That's a decrease of nearly 11,000 a game. Unbeaten and exciting Southern Methodist plays in plush and convenient Texas Stadium, home of the Dallas Cowboys.

A telephone booth might do as well. SMU is playing before intimate gatherings 32,517 down 808 from last year. For tin game with Houston, SMU drew 32,000. The four targeted schools, then, are down 1,504 customers a game. "We're getting more space in the media and more in the barber shop," said SMU spokesman Bob Condren.

"Maybe that will pay off down the line." Jim Van Valkenburg, the NCAA statistician, said attendance among the top 97 teams is up 1.58 percent, or 685 a game, but attributes that to reasons other than the NFL strike. "Attendance patterns are established well before the. season," he said. "Tickets are purchased and plans made. And I think you have a different clientele.

The pros get a lot of the blue-collar Colleges get the graduates, the professional people." COMPLAINT DEPARTMENT A local golf pro says the only way the Valley could have more charity golf tournaments is to invent new diseases. Is baseball too quick with the ax? Running one-two-three in the National League Manager of the Year derby were Atlanta's Joe Torre (fired by the Mets in 1981), San Francisco's Frank Robinson (fired by Cleveland in 1977) and St. Louis' Whitey Herzog (fired by the Royals in 1979). Pet peeves: Explaining my business to overly protective secretaries; hemorrhoid commercials; car Tadios that rattle windows in the next county; millionaires on strike; folks so eager to get on elevators that passengers can't get off; diets; rear ends that don't justify the jeans. Phoenix vs.

Denver 8:10 p.m., McNichols Arena, Denver GENERAL The Sunt got an enpecled victory and the Nuggets an unexpected loss on the NBA'a opening night Friday. The Suns beat San Diego, 1 13-99. while the Nuggets fell, 12S-117, to the Dallas Mavericks, who are starling their third year In the league. Poor shooting plagued Denver on Friday night. The Nuggets shot 41.6 percent from the field.

Starting forward Alex English was eight for 24 and center Dan Issel six for 17. Forward Kikl Vandeweghe scored 32 points. Center Rich Kelley, whom the Nuggets acquired from Phoenix In June, had five points and five rebounds. Nuggets coach Doug Moe said Kelley was effective and should have played more minutes. A key for the Nuggets will be the development of rookie guard Rob Williams, a first-round pick from the University of Houston.

Williams Is 10 pounds overweight. He is still trying to work himself Into shape after missing most of training camp because of contract negotiations. Williams had seven assists and six points In IS minutes Friday night. Suns coach John MacLeod said he will continue to play everyone on his roster. The Suns bench was the key to Friday's victory.

MacLeod hopes to get some more scoring from starting guard Walter Davis tonight. Davis had eight points In the first half but was scoreless In the second. Tonight's game will start 40 minutes later than the usual tipoff time because It will be broadcast by ESPN, a cable television network. The Suns will return to Phoenix on Monday and open their home schedule on Tuesday against the Portland Trail Blazers at Memorial Coliseum. KEY INJURIES Suns: Guard-forward Craig Dykema (forearm) on injured list; Denver: none.

Probable starters INGLEW00D, Calif. (UPl) Three-time NBA scoring champion Bob McAdoo, despite signing a multiyear contract with the Los Angeles Lakers earlier this week, will be ineligible to play until the league approves his contract, it was announced Saturday. And NBA approval may not be received for at least several days while alleged problems in the contract are worked out. "We never received an actual copy of the contract," said NBA spokesman Brian Mcln-tyre. "It was phoned in.

"Until we get an actual copy, we can't approve it." But Mclntyre then hinted that the contract may not conform to the league's standards and might have to be Now (or a limited time, you pet enceptional savings, on those J'-t I ill lmck All arc br.ind new trucks with full Phone Georpt Jr. tit iXX) 572-bOOOor loll Irco (800) B402. 118 2 STAGE MAST MOtX I CAPACITY WG PRICE SA( PftlCI jfc. io JK.l'j 3WII, $84-Jf JIG 4.U0U lr SK. S3 JfG 130 FULl FHEE LIFT.

STAGF MAST MODE 1 JrG 1'jFLM JI 70FLM FlM JfGJ'jFLMiP) CAPACITY 3.000 III 4 .000 ID. 4 ,000 In 5 000 Hi 5.000 lb SAL PRICE 19.4 S6 $10,833 111.312 111 31? ill RI PRICE S1S.800 $18 100 S1R900 SI 900 119.700 r', Po.vershit! Transmission PHICF INCI I IDt 4 cylinder, w.iter -cixjled M.tAi.t (is pneum.itK tires, power engine hour meter, luel oil nd t.Meiy chln'e w.ifnir.f lielvts. water temperature e.iutle. elect'ic horn, hc.idliehts, find back up liehts. direction iipht indicators teiir vie ii iii ror, overhead guard, tur ks and ol tools.

YOUR LOCAL JET DEALER IBi DENVER (0-1) Alex English (6-7) Kikl Vandeweghe (6-8) Dan Issel (6-9) T. R. Dunn (6-4) Billy McKinney (6-0) PHOENIX (1-0) Pos. Larry Nance (6-10) Maurice Lucas (6-9) Alvan Adams (6-9) Waller Davis (6-6) Dennis Johnson (6-4) ALLEY EQUIPMENT SUPPLY 6 asl floaoway Mesa, Arnoria (02 133-7204 WINDOW TINTING WISH'S PRO SHOP Everything "Fore" the Golfer at Discount Prices BUT MORE FOR IESSI 10271 N. Seomdale Rd.

991-7536 Mt lidt o4 WindmtM Ptoltt S. ol Sh0 Hour: 10-S 3CSJ 2 WAY mjWBILE RADIO I I Mosl2Ir.Cars Pacific Sunroofs 274-8446 7UW.CAMEL$ACK OR RADIO TELEPKOXES 244-9437 NELSON COMMUNICATIONS "SIKVINQ ARIZONA SINCt I9M Xi WE ARE HOT! Only 1 4 Day To Our Home Opener NOW IS THE TIME TO ORDER YOUR. SEASON TICKETS Specializing ir. hreigh cars front whet! drives TRANSMISSION TONe-UP-- PICK-10 MINI SEASON TICKET OR INDIVIDUAL GAME TICKETS $75 ANVCAROft tlOHT PICK-UP TRUCKS FOREIGN OR AMERICAN HOME SCHEDULE VS. DATE VS.

Inauw DATE Sol, to. II Jm.lcf.Jl bt, lfei.il Dec. 5 Wet, Dec. I Sit, Dec. It frLDetU ItWYOM SiLJciS nTTSBUM CUffMUD M.

II KNMNS IVFFAtO Sit, M. 12 lllfTtlO CHICAGO MKSHSCm MEMPHIS CIMUW COMM IN FrvNar.lt IIITMOM SMMCCO Frl.IU.2S IUSUCITI TRANSMISSION REBUILT- SINGLE TICKETS ADULTS $8 $7 $6 JUNIORS $fi50 $1:50 $450 SENIORS ONE FREE GAME When You Buy Our Mini-Season Pick-10 You Pay For 10 Games and Get An Additional Game At No Extra Charge AU AtKMCN MAM AUYOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS AtSUA-T Oft HtMlMD MONTH QUARANTIC INCtUOlS tV ermamstDt rot TiuNSMftoM ANO LABOR! WrCHIU Mir. 27 SHOWS lOSUCUtS Apr. 1 MM MEN I JPCMWff TICKET BBSCOMJMT COVfOmi WKHfM KWfOM Sit. ha.

I Kir 1 FrMirJ tOLKNUT lOStKUlS lUTMORf SI. toots Frl.lH. 14 SmJm.1I Only Hirt Gullity Oulr sti TfnroiMii 165 SUNS vs. TRAIL BLAZERS Tuesday November 2 ADULTS KIDS 12 UNDER $10.00 tickets for $700 $1000 tickets for $5 00 $7.50 tickets for $5 00 $7.50 tickets for $3 75 Call Now! AH Cr from 1966 up.xept Front Whol Drivt 4x4V "TRANSMISSION CIRCLE AT NIGHT Save on tickets to Tuesday's home opener with discount coupons available at Valley Circle locations, or use this coupon, compliments of Circle Also, everyone attending the game will receive a free full color 198PAi3 Suns schedule poster for ticket information, call PNOEMX VISA' RESEAL AllAitortMl mI, I39S1 tnckiMI Ri-dccm this coupon lor discounted tickets to the above game at the Suns ticket office, Diamonds Box Office or at the Coliseum Box Office right up until gamctimc. Coupon must be redeemed' at the time of ticket purchase to receive discount.

Otter subject to ticket availability (')5T service charge per ticket at Diamonds. DR. JACKS TRANSMISSIONS 4232 W. Indian School 272-7393 TREE TOWING WITH REPAIRS WASH 256-6000 Gdmv I I M. 0..