A roundup of the week Nov. 2-8

Compiled by JANE E. BACHMAN

November 16, 1981

PRO BASKETBALL—Without the Iceman, George Gervin, the Midwest Division-leading Spurs might have been on the rocks. But Ron Brewer came off the bench for the injured—bruised right thigh—Gervin to replace him quite nicely. In San Antonio's 128-102 win over Cleveland, Brewer scored 39 points, six better than his previous career high. He then did one better, getting 40 points in a 103-96 defeat of New York. Despite the absence of its all-star, holdout Marques Johnson, Milwaukee kept the Central Division lead, also with help from a veteran. Brian Winters scored a total of 47 points as the Bucks won twice, 98-90 over Washington and 105-102 over San Diego. Close behind Milwaukee was Detroit, which, with Isiah Thomas leading the way (page 75), beat New Jersey 109-103 before losing for the first two times this season. One of the Pistons' losses, by an 86-82 score, was the Bullets' first victory of 1981-82; the other was a 129-88 loss to Boston. The win was the third straight for the Celtics, who also beat Chicago 115-93 and Indiana 111-94 behind Larry Bird's 54-point scoring. The victories left Boston atop the Atlantic Division lead with Philadelphia, which won twice, 107-99 over Indiana and 112-99 over Washington, before losing its first game of the season, 106-99 to Atlanta. That was a sweet victory for the Hawks, who hadn't won in Philadelphia in five games and who had lost by two points to the 76ers in their season opener. Philly's loss left Pacific Division leader Portland with the league's only unblemished record as the Blazers extended their win streak to six.