Nov. 29, 1963 - Jerry Lucas is playing his own game of “can you top this?” He put on another record-shattering rebound show tonight, breaking the Cincinnati Royals’ individual record he had set only the night before, and teamed with Oscar Robertson and Wayne Embry to pace the Royals to their fifth straight victory, a 135-110 runaway over the New York Knicks. Big Luke, who had broken Maurice Stokes’ old club standard of 30 with 31 rebounds against Philadelphia last night, saved an even better show for 6,308 home fans in Cincinnati Gardens. He picked off 33 altogether, including 14 in the final quarter, which tied the Gardens’ one-quarter mark, and added 25 points in a brilliant performance that drew a huge ovation when he was withdrawn from the game with 43 seconds remaining. Just as brilliant was Robertson, who piled in 29 points in 31 minutes, added 11 assists, and made seven straight free throws. He hasn’t missed a free throw in two games, making 12 straight against Philadelphia last night for at least 19 in a row. Afterward, Lucas admitted that he was counting his rebounds and wished to break last night’s record performance. “I felt pretty good,” he said, “and the Knicks seemed to be taking some bad shots. They were coming down, firing, and missing, and I was getting them. I thought I had a chance.” Royals’ coach Jack McMahon was lavish in praise of his team, especially Lucas and Robertson. Of Oscar, he said: “He’s been fantastic. He played three games on the road as great as I’ve ever seen. Every time we needed a bucket, he got it.”
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