Bird Absent, but Celtics Clobber Clippers, 132-111

BOSTON — Kevin McHale scored 35 points as the Boston Celtics, minus Larry Bird, rolled to a 132-111 victory over the Clippers Friday night.

Bird didn’t report to the Boston Garden after suffering a lower back sprain while at home a few hours before the game. Reserve forward Fred Roberts filled in with a 17-point effort.

Bird will be examined today to determine if he can play Sunday against the Pistons at Detroit. This was the seventh game Bird has missed this season. He was idle for three games with a strained Achilles’ tendon and missed three others with a back sprain.

McHale scored 12 points in the first quarter, 11 in the second and 12 more in the third. He sat out the fourth quarter as Boston reserves finished the game.

The Clippers, paced by center Benoit Benjamin and Michael Cage with 21 points apiece, never came close after the first period, which ended with Boston ahead, 36-28.

For the Celtics, Danny Ainge scored 20 points, Robert Parish 18, and Dennis Johnson added 10 points and a season-high 16 assists.

The Celtics cruised to a 69-54 halftime lead and a 105-79 margin at the end of the third period.

“It amazes me Boston plays as well as it does without Larry Bird,” Clipper Coach Don Chaney said.

He said McHale was too much for the Clippers.

“I thought having Benjamin covering McHale would help because I figured without Bird, they would go to McHale, and they did,” Chaney said.

McHale made 16 of 20 shots and 3 of 5 free throws. “We had no problem getting mentally ready for this game; with or without Bird, we felt we would play well,” he said.