NBA Roundup : Barkley’s 3-Pointer Beats Bullets

In the season after Julius Erving ended his career, the Philadelphia 76ers are in danger of missing the playoffs for the first time in 13 seasons.

They are barely alive and only because Charles Barkley keeps pulling out unexpected victories.

In another of the string of “must” games, Barkley made a three-point shot at the overtime buzzer Wednesday night at Philadelphia to give the 76ers a 98-97 victory over the Washington Bullets.

Even with the win the 76ers have the worst record of the five teams vying for the last three playoff positions in the East.

With six games remaining, the 76ers are 34-42. Ahead of them are Washington (35-42), Indiana (35-41), New York (36-41) and Cleveland (38-40).

At halftime the 76ers trailed, 47-30. They were 4 for 11 in the second quarter and scored only 11 points.

Barkley rallied them with some help from Maurice Cheeks, and the 76ers actually forged in front, 81-76, on an 11-0 spurt in the fourth quarter.

Mike Gminski tipped in teammate Albert King’s miss with 28 seconds left in regulation to tie the game, 85-85. Both teams missed chances to win before overtime.

When Moses Malone made a three-point play with two seconds left in overtime, the Bullets led, 97-95. After a timeout, the 76ers threw the ball to Barkley, who put up the winning shot.

Barkley finished with 30 points and 20 rebounds.

New York 127, Indiana 107--Patrick Ewing scored 41 points in just 26 minutes at New York to lead the Knicks to the victory that put them ahead of Indiana into seventh place in the East.

The Knicks have won six of their last seven, and Ewing has been their leader. In four of the last six games, Ewing has scored at least 36 points.

Detroit 115, Cleveland 98--Adrian Dantley scored 26 of his 28 points in the second half at Pontiac, Mich., to lead the Pistons to their 50th victory and slow the Cavaliers’ drive to the playoffs. It is only the third time the Pistons have won 50 games.

The Cavaliers, still in sixth place in the East, played the second half without Mark Price, who has been their most consistent player. Price suffered a head injury in the second quarter.

Boston 123, Milwaukee 104--Larry Bird had a triple double--26 points, 10 assists and 10 rebounds--at Boston to lead the Celtics to their eighth consecutive victory.

With the Lakers losing at Denver, the Celtics moved to within two games of the Lakers in the battle for the league’s best overall record.

The Celtics have six games remaining, four of them on the road.

Golden State 112, Dallas 110--Rookie forward Tellis Frank sank two free throws with two seconds left to give the Warriors the victory at Oakland and cut the Dallas lead over Denver to one-half game.

The Mavericks and Nuggets meet Sunday at Denver in the battle for first place.

Just before scoring the winning points, Frank intercepted an inbounds pass by Sam Perkins and was fouled by Derek Harper.

Phoenix 123, San Antonio 116--Eddie Johnson scored 37 points and triggered a decisive 12-0 run in the closing minutes at Phoenix that kept the Suns slim playoff hopes alive.