The Boston Bruins clinched a playoff berth in the National Hockey League by whipping the champion Detroit Red Wings, 4-2, last night. Four of the Bruins tallied goals, the opener being registered by veteran Capt. Milt Schmidt, the 225th of his major league career.

The Boston Celtics soundly defeated the New York Knickerbockers, 93-71, in the first game of the NBA's Eastern round robin playoff.

The Boston Red Sox lost their fifth straight yesterday, bowing 2 to 1 to the Pittsburgh Pirates before only 582 fans at frigid, wind-swept Jaycee Field. Truman Clevenger, 21-year-old rookie, was the losing pitcher.

The Baltimore Orioles took a quick lead and then held off a last-minute Cleveland rally, to defeat the Indians, 9 to 8, in an exhibition game in Yuma, Ariz, yesterday. Seven home runs were a feature of the game.