BOSTON -- Larry Bird's five three-point goals in Boston's 111-98 victory over Milwaukee Sunday tied Mike Bratz's playoff record.
Bird hit his last three-pointer as he walked off the court when time expired.
'It seems the more casual he looks, the more accurate he is,' teammate Rick Carlisle said.
... Bird denied that revenge motivated the Celtics in their four-game sweep of the Bucks.
'It's always good to win a series,' said Bird, who was part of the 1983 Celtics team swept by the Bucks in the Eastern Conference semifinal. 'There really was no revenge factor. The Celtics don't come to split, they come to win.'
... Although most people expected the Celtics to meet the Lakers in the NBA finals, Boston center Robert Parish is not surprised by Houston's success against Los Angeles.
'I don't think there's anyone who is shocked that the Rockets have done so well,' Parish said. 'The talent was always there, and now they've got the experience to go with it.'
If Houston eliminates Los Angeles and meets Boston, Game 1 at Boston Garden, scheduled for either May 26 or May 29, will be Ralph Sampson's first game on the parquet floor since falling on his back there on March 24.
Sampson toppled over backwards while going for a rebound and fell flat on his back in the game. He lost feeling in one foot for a short time, but was released from the hospital four hours later. ... Despite a painful heel injury, Bucks guard Sidney Moncrief played 40 minutes and scored 27 points in Game 4 againt the Celtics.
'You'd look at him limp, see him grimace each time he had to start or stop and you'd wonder how he was able to even attempt to play,' Boston's Dennis Johnson said. 'Incredible, that's all you can say.'
