WESTERN CONFERENCE : Johnson Has Injured Left Thigh

Kevin Johnson might sit out Game 4 of the Western Conference finals against the Seattle SuperSonics today because of a badly bruised left thigh.

“Stiff, sore, tight,” the Phoenix Suns’ starting point guard said Saturday of the injury suffered the night before during the third quarter of Game 3.

“I’m glad I have another day. I still wish the game was at 7:30 (p.m.) instead of 12:30.”

Charles Barkley, Johnson’s teammate, is physically sound and ready to play despite his running battle with SuperSonic fans Friday night.

“If somebody curses me, there’s a 100% chance he’s going to get cursed back,” said Barkley, who had 16 points and 16 rebounds as the Suns took a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven series.

“I’m not here to win friends, I’m here to win basketball games. Some fans are just idiots. . . . They didn’t pay to talk to me. They paid to watch the game and cheer for their team.”

When the Suns left the court, one spectator apparently dumped a cup of beer, dousing Sun assistant coach Scotty Robertson.

“How could you do something like that to Scotty?” Barkley said. “I wouldn’t mind if they threw beer on Tom Chambers, but how could you do that to Scotty?”

The Suns won Game 3 despite being outrebounded by the Sonics, 55-38. Seattle’s front line of Shawn Kemp, Derrick McKey and Sam Perkins combined for 33 rebounds. Oliver Miller had only two rebounds in 18 undistinguished minutes for Phoenix.

“They killed us on the boards,” Barkley said.