Barkley Is a Star as Clippers Lose to 76ers, 108-102

When the Philadelphia 76ers put together their 1986-87 season highlight film, forward Charles Barkley is sure to have a starring role.

Barkley scored a game-high 38 points, just three under his career high, as the 76ers beat the Clippers, 108-102, Monday night before an announced crowd of 10,111 fans at the Spectrum.

Barkley made enough spectacular dunks against the Clippers to fill a highlight film.

The Clippers (4-27) have lost 12 straight games, which equals their longest streak of the season, and 24 of their last 25 going into tonight’s game against the Washington Bullets at Landover, Md.

“These guys are not losers and they’re not playing like losers,” Clipper Coach Don Chaney said. “It’s just that they’re limited. We make the same mistakes each game. They’re taking turns (making mistakes).”

The Clippers held Barkley in check for the first half, limiting him to just 12 points. The Clippers shot 61% in the first half and led, 56-51, at haftime.

However, Barkley scored 26 points in the second half as the 76ers (18-14) pulled away to win their third straight game.

Barkley has scored 29, 30 and 38 points, respectively, in his last 3 games.

“I wanted to start ’87 playing well,” Barkley said. “I was frustrated by the way we played the last month and now things are starting to go well.

“We didn’t take the Clippers lightly (in the first half), they just played well.”

Barkley made 15 of 23 shots from the floor and also hit a three-point shot. He made 7 of 11 free throws and hauled down 12 rebounds. He tied his season-high with 9 offensive rebounds. He also had 5 steals, 4 assists and 2 blocked shots.

Barkley took over in the third quarter, scoring 12 points. With the Clippers leading, 72-69, with four minutes left in the quarter, the 76ers outscored them, 12-4, to take an 81-76 lead into the fourth period. Barkley had four points and an assist in the spurt.

“Barkley really motivates the players to do better,” said Clipper forward Cedric Maxwell, who was assigned to guard Barkley. “(Boston’s Larry) Bird does it mostly with his passing. But Barkley does it with rebounding, scoring hustling, you name it. He’s like Michael Jordan in the respect that his sheer personality and physical talent seems to carry the whole team.

“He jumps like Wes Unseld used to jump. I think he’s going to be a carbon copy. You contain him for a couple of quarters and all of a sudden a sudden he jumps out of the roof on you.”

Said Chaney: “He (Barkley) is just a great player. He’s an all-star player. When I see Magic (Johnson) and Bird I see athletic ability but I see more skill. Charles Barkley is an athlete. Bird and Magic don’t have the speed that he has.

“Barkley doesn’t appreciate losing. And he’s willing to do whatever it takes to win. Those are the superstars. When you’re going along at one level and all of a sudden it gets a little tight and you shift into gear. That’s what this guy is. He’s just a superstar.”

But Barkley had help as the 76ers beat the Clippers for the 14th consecutive time dating back to Feb. 21, 1980. The Clippers haven’t won a game in Philadelphia since Oct. 31, 1975 (when they were known as the Buffalo Braves), losing 17 straight at the Spectrum.

Philadelphia forward Cliff Robinson, the former USC star, had 23 points and 7 rebounds before fouling out.

Guard Maurice Cheeks scored 22 points and had 10 assists. He also had a career-high 9 steals.

The 76ers forced the Clippers into a season-high 29 turnovers.

Julius Erving had 11 points, 8 rebounds and 4 blocked shots.

“Any time you play a struggling team like the Clippers you worry about letups and falling into deep valleys,” 76er Coach Matt Guokas said. “I thought Maurice came out in the second half and played great defense. He made a bunch of key steals, and Charles played really well.”

Guard World B. Free had eight points. Free made 4 of 11 shots after going 0 for 6 in his first game as a 76er.

The 76ers signed Free to a $200,000 offer sheet on Dec. 19, and he joined the team on Dec. 30.

“World Free can help anybody simply because he’s a great one-on-one player,” Chaney said. “I don’t care how old he is or how much hair he loses.”

Forward Michael Cage led the Clippers with 24 points and 11 rebounds. Maxwell added 18 points and 6 rebounds. Center Benoit Benjamin had 14 points, 7 rebounds and a game-high 6 blocked shots.

Clipper Notes

Clipper Coach Don Chaney and assistant coach Don Casey will have breakfast with Vice President George Bush at the Executive Office Building across the street from the White House before tonight’s game against the Bullets. . . . Clipper guard Mike Woodson had his jersey stolen in New Jersey, so he wore No. 21 instead of his regular No. 42. . . . Chaney received his first technical foul of the season. . . . Benoit Benjamin had to be restrained from going after referee Bruce Alexander after Alexander called a technical foul on the Clipper center. . . . The 76ers placed guard Andrew Toney on the injured list Monday due to chronic foot problems. Toney did not attend the game because Coach Matt Guokas said he does not want Toney sitting on the bench. . . . Philadelphia center Jeff Ruland, who underwent arthroscopic surgery on his left knee last November, will be re-examined today. . . . Clipper center Tim Kempton missed the game because he had the flu. . . . The Clippers weren’t a good enough draw, so the 76ers scheduled a postgame concert by El De Barge. . . . The Clippers say they haven’t made a decision on free-agent forward Michael Brooks, who was signed to a 10-day contract by the Indiana Pacers last week. Brooks, a former Clipper, is still the property of Los Angeles. If the Pacers offer him a contract after his 10-day contract expires, the Clippers can match the offer and keep him, match the offer and trade him or decide not to match it.