NBA star Maurice Lucas dead at 57
Maurice Lucas, who helped the Trail Blazers win the 1977 NBA championship, died Sunday after a long battle with bladder cancer, the team announced. Playing alongside Bill Walton, Lucas averaged a team-high 20,2 points and grabbed 11,2 rebounds per game in 1976-1977. Walton named his son Luke after Lucas.
A five-time NBA All-Star, Lucas was an assistant coach with the Blazers for six seasons before leaving last year to undergo surgery. He did not return this season.
Lucas’ Number 20 was retired by the Blazers in 1988. He also had his number retired by Marquette, the school he led to the 1974 NCAA championship game.
- Maurice Lucas.
Lucas played 14 pro seasons in the now defunct American Basketball Association and, after the 1976 merger, the NBA.
After joining Portland in 1976 he led the 1976-77 Blazers championship team in scoring with an average of 20,2 points with 11,2 rebounds. His jersey number 20 was retired by the Trail Blazers in 1988.
The five-time All-Star served as an assistant coach with Portland, but last year he left the team to undergo surgery and didn’t return to coaching this season.
In 12 NBA seasons with Portland, New Jersey, New York, Phoenix, the Los Angeles Lakers and Seattle Lucas averaged 14,4 points and 8,8 rebounds.
Lucas is survived by his wife, Pamela, sons David and Maurice II and a daughter – Kristin.
Utah 120, Oklahoma city 99 – Paul Millsap had 30 points and 16 boards, Deron Williams added 16 points and 15 assists for visiting Utah.
Miami 101, New Jersey 78 – LeBron James scored 20 points, Dwayne Wade 18 and Chris Bosh 17 for the visiting Heat.
Dallas 99, L.A. clippers 83 – Jason Kidd ended the first half with a 65-foot shot-put heave from inside the three-point arc at the opposite end, and Caron Butler scored 17 points for the visiting Mavericks.
L.A. Lakers 107, Golden State 83 – Pau Gasol had 26 points and 12 rebounds, Kobe Bryant added 20 points, and the host Lakers improved to 3-0. Monta Ellis scored 20 points for the Warriors, whose first loss ended their first 2-0 start in 16 years.