Celtics Down Sixers, 111-103, Grab First in Atlantic Division

Reserve forward Kevin McHale and veteran guard Nate Archibald led a Boston Celtics' fourth-quarter rally that helped seal the Green's 111-103 victory last night over the Philadelphis 76ers before a sellout crowd at the Garden. The win moved the Celtics into first place in the NBA's Atlantic division, one half a game in front of the second-place Sixers.

McHale came off the bench with the Celtics clinging to a 94-93 lead and proceeded to score eight of Boston's next twelve points to boost the Celtic lead to 104-97, with just two minutes remaining.

Archibald controlled Boston's attack down the stretch, and contributed a key steal last in the fourth quarter. Six of his team-leading 22 points came during the final minutes.

Larry Bird also netted 22 on the night, including 19 in the first stanza to give Boston a 63-50 halftime advantage.

Boston increased the lead to 15 in the first half and threatened to run away with the contest, but Maurice Cheeks and Bobby Jones led a Sixer comeback, each scoring four as Philadelphia blanked the Celts, 10-0 early in the third quarter.

The Calvary

Philadelphia managed to close within one point three times in the fourth quarter, but Boston was able to hold off the Sixers until McHale came in to put the game out of reach.

The forward connected for two straight baskets, Archibald banked a jumper and McHale added a tip-in to ice the game.

Robert Parrish tallied 14 points on the night, and sharpshooter Chris Ford was three for three on three-point attempts in the first half.

Andrew Toney, who terrorized the Green in last season's Eastern Conference finals, led all Philadelphia scorers with 22 points, followed by Julius Erving and Maurice Cheeks with 18 apiece.

The loss was the Sixers' first on the road this season and extended Boston's winning skein over Philadelphia, a streak which started when the Celts won three straight last spring to advance to the NBA championship finals.