NBA ROUNDUP : Mavericks Give Suns a Scare

The matchup between the best and the worst in the NBA turned out a lot closer than expected.

The Phoenix Suns, owners of the NBA’s best record (23-5), had to outscore the 2-25 Dallas Mavericks, 29-18, in the fourth quarter to escape with a 111-107 victory Thursday night at Dallas.

“It was tough to get up for a game like this,” said Charles Barkley, who had 32 points and added 14 rebounds. “That’s why we’re just a good team and not a great team yet. For a while there, we lost our intensity.”

Dallas held an 89-82 lead entering the fourth quarter, only the second time all season the Mavericks had the advantage after three quarters. But Phoenix went ahead for good with 1:20 to play when Dan Majerle scored off a pass from Barkley to make it 105-103.

“Where’s this team that I’ve been hearing about that gets beat every night?” Phoenix Coach Paul Westphal said. “I thought they played hard and we couldn’t grind them down with our bench. I’m real glad to get out of here with a win.”

Barkley received three stitches over his right eye after being elbowed by Terry Davis in the first half.

“I was dizzy for about a quarter,” Barkley said. “I really lost my equilibrium. I was out of it. It took me a quarter before I felt right again.”

Maverick guard Derek Harper, returning from a four-game injury layoff, led the Mavericks with a season-high 31 points. Sean Rooks and Terry Davis added 15 each.

Portland 113, Houston 91--At Houston, Cliff Robinson scored 21 points as the Trail Blazers handed the Rockets their sixth consecutive loss.

Otis Thorpe scored 19 points to lead the Rockets. Robert Horry added 18 points and Hakeem Olajuwon had 16 points and 12 rebounds.

Atlanta 100, Milwaukee 94-- Stacey Augmon scored 20 points and Kevin Willis added 18 points and 14 rebounds as the host Hawks ended a four-game losing streak.

Frank Brickowski had 24 points and Eric Murdock 19 for the Bucks, who had won three in a row.

San Antonio 109, Utah 99--Dale Ellis scored a season-high 33 points and David Robinson added 16 at San Antonio to lead the Spurs to their third victory in four games over the Jazz this season.

The Spurs have defeated Utah by an average of 18 points in the three victories. Utah defeated San Antonio by 26 points Tuesday night in Salt Lake City.

The Spurs held Karl Malone to 13 points, 14 below his average, in ending the Jazz’s six-game winning streak. Utah was led by Jay Humphries’ 19 points, 13 of which came in the fourth quarter.

Golden State 119, Miami 105-- Chris Mullin scored 24 points and Chris Gatling and Latrell Sprewell added 19 apiece as the Warriors won for the sixth time in their last seven games at Oakland.

Mullin, averaging 27.7 points per game, scored 14 in the third quarter on five-of-six shooting. He took only seven shots in the first half and made only two.

Kevin Edwards led the Heat with 24 points. Rony Seikaly and Harold Miner added 20 and 15 points, respectively.