NBA ROUNDUP : Barkley Strong in Comeback

Charles Barkley of the Philadelphia 76ers missed seven games with a sprained left knee, but he looked strong when he returned Thursday night against the Boston Celtics.

Barkley played 24 minutes, scored 21 points and grabbed six rebounds at Philadelphia as the 76ers defeated the Celtics, 122-97.

“I got a lot of dunks and layups,” said Barkley, who made 10 of 15 shots. “Anybody can make those. I’m disappointed that I didn’t get more rebounds. I should have had more.

“I feel a little sore, but we expected that.”

The 6-foot-6, 250-pound Barkley was scoreless in 5 1/2 minutes in the first quarter, but he scored 10 points in the second quarter as the 76ers built a 60-48 halftime lead. Barkley scored two points in the third quarter and nine in the fourth, when the 76ers put the game away.

Philadelphia Coach Jim Lynam said he might use Barkley the same way Friday night at Miami.

Ron Anderson and Hersey Hawkins each scored 26 points as the 76ers ended a three-game losing streak. Manute Bol blocked nine shots.

Kevin Gamble scored a career-high 33 points for the Celtics, the Atlantic Division champions who play either New York or Indiana in a first-round playoff series.

The Celtics played without Larry Bird, who missed his sixth consecutive game because of recurrent back spasms. Reggie Lewis also was sidelined with a back problem.

New Jersey 108, Washington 103--The Nets’ victory at Landover, Md., ended a 20-game road losing streak.

Derrick Coleman scored 29 points and had 11 rebounds as the Nets got their first victory away from the Meadowlands Arena since Jan. 26 in Miami and their first win at the Capital Centre since March 17, 1986.

Earlier this season, the Nets ended a then-NBA-record 34-game road losing streak by winning at Phoenix on Nov. 23.

Mookie Blaylock added 24 points for the Nets, who had lost eight of nine.

John Williams matched his season-high with 27 points for the Bullets.

San Antonio 102, Houston 95--Terry Cummings scored 21 points at Houston as the Spurs eliminated the Rockets from the Midwest Division title race.

The Rockets trail the first-place Spurs by three games with two games left in the regular season.

Hakeem Olajuwon scored 19 points and had 14 rebounds for the Rockets.

Sacramento 123, Denver 104--Lionel Simmons scored 26 points at Sacramento to give the Kings a 24-56 record, one victory more than they accumulated last season.

Rookie center Duane Causwell set a franchise record with nine blocked shots for the Kings.

Reggie Williams scored 23 points for the Nuggets, who lost for the 10th time in a row.