NBA Roundup : Barkley Rallies 76ers Past Knicks, 115-108

Just about the best battle left in the regular National Basketball Assn. season is for the last three playoff positions in the Eastern Conference.

It is a five-team scrap among Indiana, Cleveland, Washington, New York and Philadelphia. Until recently when both began to stumble, it appeared that Indiana and Cleveland would make certain the Central Division had all six teams in postseason play.

Now, though, there are only 3 1/2 games separating Indiana, which has the best record of the five (30-32), and Philadelphia and New York, which have the worst (27-36).

Almost by himself, Charles Barkley, when he can keep his cool, is keeping the 76ers in contention for a playoff spot.

Barkley did not add to his league-leading technical foul total of 24 as he rallied the 76ers to a key 115-108 victory over the Knicks Wednesday night at Philadelphia.

Barkley scored 19 of his 36 points in the fourth quarter as the 76ers, trailing by eight points late in the third quarter, charged to victory.

The victory pulled the 76ers into a tie with the Knicks, who came close to winning on the road for only the fourth time in 30 games. Both trail Washington, which is currently holding down the last playoff spot, by 1 1/2 games.

The 76ers, who lost playmaker Maurice Cheeks early in the game after he suffered a concussion when hit in the head by Patrick Ewing’s elbow, needed the best of Barkley.

It may be that the officials were so shocked by Barkley not complaining that they saw all the fouls against the burly forward. He went to the line 24 times and sank 20 of his free throws to help account for the 76ers’ 45-15 margin in free throws. The Knicks had 10 more field goals than the 76ers.

It was Barkley who broke the tenacious Knicks’ press by handling the ball himself in the last quarter.

“One of my biggest assets is that I can score on the fast break,” Barkley told UPI. “They (the Knicks) trap so much, they open things up for you.

“Inside this body somewhere is a guard.”

Washington 106, Chicago 103--The Bullets contained Michael Jordan in the closing minutes at Landover, Md., and four points in the last 46 seconds by John Williams clinched the victory.

Jordan scored only 25 points, but 12 came in the first nine minutes of the fourth quarter to put the Bulls in front. Then, he made only one of his last four shots.

The Bullets won without Bernard King, their top scorer, who missed his third game in a row because of a back injury.

New Jersey 83, Milwaukee 79--The Nets caught the Bucks on a cold shooting night at East Rutherford, N.J., but they still needed an outstanding performance by Buck Williams to eke out a win.

Williams scored 30 points, had 21 rebounds and, with help from Roy Hinson, rallied the Nets for the victory in the last quarter.

Although they shot only 4 for 19 in the third quarter and hit just 36% of their shots, the Bucks led, 75-72, with six minutes left.

Utah 120, Dallas 105--Karl Malone had 29 points and 17 rebounds at Salt Lake City, and assists leader John Stockton had 17 to lead the Jazz to an easy victory over the Mavericks.

Phoenix 118, Golden State 112--Chris Mullin scored a career-high 38 points at Oakland, but the Warriors couldn’t overcome a 24-point second-quarter deficit, and the Suns ended a nine-game road losing streak.