NBA ROUNDUP : Suns Get Jump on Nets, 104-103

When Charles Barkley was getting ready for a crucial jump ball against Derrick Coleman, he did not plan to lose it--even though Coleman is almost half a foot taller.

“I had to get it any way I could,” Barkley said of the tap that set up Kevin Johnson’s game-winning basket with 2.2 seconds left, giving the Phoenix Suns a 104-103 victory over New Jersey on Friday night at East Rutherford, N.J.

Barkley led the Suns with 34 points and 16 rebounds.

Coleman, whose two free throws with 14 seconds remaining gave the Nets a 103-102 lead, said the jump ball should not have been called when he and Barkley came down with a rebound of Dan Majerle’s missed shot with 7.4 seconds remaining.

Barkley easily tapped the jump ball to Johnson, who passed inside to Oliver Miller, who found Johnson on the baseline.

San Antonio 94, Orlando 84--David Robinson had 23 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists at Orlando to win another personal matchup with Shaquille O’Neal.

O’Neal led the Magic with 21 points and 19 rebounds but got little help as the Magic fell to 0-3 in games pitting the Magic’s second-year center against Robinson.

Boston 114, Portland 108--Rick Fox had 22 points and shut down Clyde Drexler, who finished with 13, and the Celtics led by at least five points for the last 44 minutes at Boston.

Fox, starting for injured shooting guard Dee Brown, had his second-highest point total of the season.

Robert Parish and Xavier McDaniel had 19 points each for the Celtics and Sherman Douglas added 16.

Chicago 104, Miami 99--Horace Grant scored 21 points and Scottie Pippen made three critical free throws in the final 1:40 at Miami.

The Bulls, who never trailed, have won both their games since Pippen returned from the injury list Tuesday. He made only five of 20 shots for 15 points after scoring 29 against Phoenix in his first game back.

Milwaukee 107, Dallas 106--Ken Norman made a three-point basket from the left wing with 2.7 seconds left at Dallas to hand the Mavericks their 11th consecutive defeat.

Dallas had a chance for the victory, but Derek Harper’s 20-footer glanced off the rim as the buzzer sounded. The Bucks got their third victory of the season and avoided tying the Mavericks for most losses in the league.

Denver 102, Charlotte 94--Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf scored 25 points and handed out eight assists at Denver. The Nuggets have won four consecutive home games. The Hornets have lost three in a row and have not won in Denver since 1990.