NBA ROUNDUP : Timberwolves No Match for 76ers, 110-77

Charles Barkley described the Philadelphia 76ers in a lot of different ways the past few seasons--none of them positive.

That has changed this season since the 76ers are getting contributions from several players.

The 76ers’ depth was evident Thursday night at Philadelphia when Ron Anderson came off the bench to score a game-high 20 points, and the 76ers’ defeated the Minnesota Timberwolves, 110-77. It was Philadelphia’s 10th victory in 12 games.

The victory assured the 76ers of a 50-victory season for first time since 1985-86.

“That’s why we’re a good team,” Barkley said. “We have so much balance. That’s why we’re a 50-win team.”

Anderson twice relieved Barkley, who was slowed by a bruised right knee injured in a collision with Atlanta’s Jon Koncak on Tuesday night. Barkley scored 11 points before he left with 6:16 remaining in the third quarter and the Sixers ahead, 68-51.

The victory reduced to four the 76ers’ magic number for clinching the Atlantic Division title. Any combination of four Philadelphia victories and Boston defeats would give the 76ers their first division championship since Julius Erving and Moses Malone led them to the NBA title in 1983.

Boston 139, Miami 118--Larry Bird scored 21 of his 40 points in the fourth quarter at Boston as the Celtics extended their winning streak to five games.

The Celtics set a club record by making all 35 of their free throws. It was the second-best performance in NBA history behind Utah’s 39 of 39 at Portland on Dec. 7, 1982. The previous club mark was 33 of 33 on March 18 against New Jersey.

After being outscored, 47-31, in the third quarter and falling behind, 94-92, the Celtics outscored Miami, 47-24, in the fourth quarter. The 47 points are the most Boston has allowed and scored in one quarter this season.

Kevin McHale had 24 points for the Celtics.

Cleveland 102, Washington 100--Brad Daugherty scored eight of his 22 points in the fourth quarter and Mark Price had a team-high 25 points at Landover, Md., and the Cavaliers moved back into a tie with Atlanta for the final Eastern Conference playoff berth.

Each team is 37-40 with five games remaining.

Jeff Malone scored a game-high 39 points for the Bullets.

New York 108, Indiana 100--Patrick Ewing scored 40 points and grabbed 15 rebounds at New York as the Knicks slowed the Pacers’ playoff drive.

The Pacers, seventh in the Eastern Conference, lead Atlanta and Cleveland, tied for eighth, by two games in the race for the final two playoff spots.

New York already has clinched a berth.

Reggie Miller scored a team-high 29 points for the Pacers.

Phoenix 116, Sacramento 114--Tom Chambers hit a short jump shot with 1.5 seconds left at Sacramento to keep the Suns a game ahead of San Antonio in the battle for fourth place in the Western Conference.

Kevin Johnson scored 32 points for the Suns, who won their third game in a row. Eddie Johnson added 29 points.

Wayman Tisdale scored a team-high 29 points for the Kings, who lost their fifth consecutive home game.

Houston 117, Charlotte 110--Akeem Olajuwon scored 34 points and had 19 rebounds at Houston as the Rockets reached the .500 level for the first time since Dec. 13.

Buck Johnson scored a career-high 30 points to support Olajuwon and help the Rockets hold off the Hornets in the closing minute.

Armon Gilliam led the Hornets with 30 points.

Olajuwon needs one defensive rebound to become the first NBA player to reach 800 since Jack Sikma’s 815 in the 1981-82 season.

Seattle 113, Denver 103--Dale Ellis scored 15 of his 24 points in the third quarter at Seattle to lead the SuperSonics.

Denver pulled to within 94-88 in the fourth quarter, but Seattle responded with a 14-8 spurt for a 108-96 lead.

Xavier McDaniel scored a team-high 26 points for the SuperSonics.

Michael Adams scored 16 points for the Nuggets.

Dallas 140, Golden State 133--Sam Perkins scored a career-high 45 points, grabbed 13 rebounds and had seven assists at Oakland as the Mavericks ended a three-game losing streak and all but ended the Warriors’ playoff chances.

Roy Tarpley had season-highs of 27 points and 15 rebounds for the Mavericks, who can clinch a playoff spot with one more victory or one more Seattle loss.