Barkley Rallies Suns With 19 in Last Quarter

Charles Barkley scored 11 points in 1:54 of the fourth quarter Tuesday night, bringing the Phoenix Suns from behind to defeat San Antonio, 109-97, for a 3-2 lead in the Western Conference semifinal.

Barkley, breaking out of a slump that has lasted most of the playoffs, scored 19 of his 36 points in the final quarter after the Spurs took an 85-78 lead on Sean Elliott’s dunk with 11:04 to play.

The Suns can wrap up the best-of-seven series by winning Game 6 Thursday night at San Antonio, where the Spurs won the third and fourth games.

David Robinson and Dale Ellis had 24 points each for the Spurs, and Elliott added 15. Dan Majerle scored 17 points and Kevin Johnson 15 for Phoenix, although neither scored in the final quarter.

San Antonio, which won the rebounding battle in each previous game by an average of 12, was out-rebounded, 31-27, this time. Barkley led the Suns with 12.

Reserve guard Frank Johnson made a 16-footer that gave the Suns their first lead of the fourth quarter with 7:36 to play. Seconds later, his two free throws put Phoenix ahead again, 88-87.

Robinson, who had five points in the last period, made a turnaround shot for the last San Antonio lead, 89-88.

Then, Barkley scored all the Suns’ points in an 11-4 run, producing a 99-91 lead with 3:44 to play.