A roundup of the week Dec. 10-16

Compiled by CRAIG NEFF

December 24, 1979

PRO BASKETBALL—NBA: Milwaukee, which drew away from its Midwest Division rivals early in the year with 10 straight wins, watched its lead dwindle to half a game. The Bucks lost four times, while second-place Kansas City extended its winning streak to five with a pair of victories. Boston defeated Milwaukee twice, 113-108 behind 25 points from Larry Bird and 97-94 on Chris Ford's last-second three-pointer. The Bucks also lost to Philadelphia and Seattle. K.C. closed in on the division lead by routing Portland 124-85 and Utah 103-87. Otis Birdsong scored 38 in the win over the Blazers, whose losing streak reached 10 games. The Jazz' loss came after Utah had doubled its season victory total with four wins in a row, including a 100-93 triumph over Golden State in which Adrian Dantley (page 88) had 39 points. Even lowly Chicago gained ground on the Bucks by handing Pacific Division leader Seattle a 121-112 defeat. The Sonics needed wins in their other three games to remain one game ahead of the Lakers, who won twice. Against the Nuggets, Los Angeles made 27 consecutive free throws and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar hit on 15 of 18 shots from the field. In the Central Division, Atlanta stretched its lead to 3� games over San Antonio. The Hawks crushed New Jersey 122-85 and then beat the Knicks 114-102, despite 29 points by Bill Cartwright and 10 blocked shots by Joe Meriweather. Atlanta also swept the 76ers on successive nights. Friday's 103-98 Hawk victory ended a Philly home stand 'during which the Sixers had won nine straight. In Atlanta on Saturday, Eddie Johnson and John Drew scored 51 points in a 112-96 win. The second defeat dropped Philadelphia to two games behind the division-leading Celtics, who were beating the Knicks 99-96 that night. Still, the Sixers' biggest loss of the week was Doug Collins, who will be out for the season with a stress fracture of his right foot.