Suns’ Grand Opening Too Much for Clippers

Billed as the night the Phoenix Suns officially unveiled their $89-million arena, it quickly became the night they unleashed their millionaire forward, Charles Barkley, on the Pacific Division.

As coming-out parties go, Saturday was a success. Barkley had 24 points and 12 rebounds in the first two quarters, finished with 37 points, 21 rebounds and eight assists and turned it over to the outside shooters, who propelled the Suns to a 111-105 victory over the Clippers at America West Arena.

Phoenix shot only 38.2%, but the Suns were 11 for 21 in the fourth quarter and had a 14-1 run to gain control for good. It was enough to cause flashbacks for a team that saw the Lakers shoot 56.1% Friday at the Sports Arena.

“It’s the second night in a row we played a team that shot the ball real well,” Clipper Danny Manning said. “That’s not going to happen again.”

The Suns shot 45.5% in the first quarter, dropped to 34.6% in the second and hit bottom at 20% in the third. But their attack was relentless, with Barkley making his Phoenix debut after an off-season trade with Philadelphia.

“That was one of our best plays,” Dan Majerle said. “Throw up bricks and let Charles get all the rebounds.”

Good plan.

“When you’re shooting bricks like we were, you have to rebound,” Barkley said.

Barkley got 12 of his 21 on the offensive end, and the Clippers combined for only six. Cedric Ceballos got four of his six there, too.

Offensive rebounding was enough to carry the Suns into the fourth quarter. They trailed, 100-95, before starting their charge. It began, appropriately enough, with a tip-in by Oliver Miller with 2:57 to play. Then Majerle made a three-pointer, followed by his two free throws and another three-pointer.

The Clippers were suddenly behind, 105-100, with 1:19 to play and were in a 2:55 scoreless stretch. And the Suns weren’t finished. Danny Ainge, making his Phoenix debut with 20 points as a reserve, connected from the right baseline with 57 seconds to play, leaving only two free throws by Ainge on the next possession to finish the 14-1 rally and the Clippers.

“They’ve got guys who can shoot outside,” Clipper Coach Larry Brown said. “But you’re not supposed to make them all.”

The Clippers shot 53.1%, had seven players score in double figures and still fell short a second time. Ron Harper led with 17 points, and Ken Norman had 15 points and 10 rebounds.

Clipper Notes

Lost in the hectic pace and thrilling finish to Friday’s overtime loss to the Lakers was that John Williams played 35 minutes in his first regular-season game since the end of 1990-91. The news got even better Saturday when he reported no swelling or pain in his surgically repaired right knee, despite playing about 10 minutes more than the Clippers had preferred. “We didn’t want him to do that,” Coach Larry Brown said. “But as long as he’s not hurting and he doesn’t struggle with it, that’s real encouraging.” And Williams, who played another 29 minutes against the Suns, certainly did not struggle. “He defended better than any of our front-court people,” Brown said. . . . A group of Clipper executives, including owner Donald T. Sterling, who was making a rare road appearance, toured America West Arena before the game. With the Exposition Park location and a spot in Burbank as the two leading candidates, the Clippers hope to have a decision on the home for their new building by the end of December. The 19,023-seat America West Arena, which includes two levels of suites and a restaurant that overlooks the court, has drawn rave reviews and is regarded as a model of future buildings. . . . Arizona voters approved Martin Luther King Day as a state holiday during elections Tuesday. The next day, Sun President Jerry Colangelo, aware that past King controversies have hurt Phoenix in an attempt to draw national events, phoned the NBA to bid for the 1995 All-Star game. Chances are very good the Suns will get it, following the trend of the league showing off its newer buildings. The 1993 game will be in Salt Lake City, 1994 in Minneapolis.

* MARK HEISLER: The long and winding road of Magic Johnson comes to an unfortunate conclusion. C10

* MIKE DOWNEY: Randy Pfund’s tenure as the Laker coach begins with an exclamation point. C11