NBA ROUNDUP : Barkley Gets 45; Spurs Get the Last Word

Charles Barkley ragged on the San Antonio Spurs, who then went out and beat Barkley’s Phoenix Suns for their 11th consecutive victory.

Undeterred, Barkley kept running his mouth.

“I sent them a message today,” Barkley said after scoring 45 points in a 109-106 loss.

“What message?” wondered San Antonio’s Sean Elliott. “That he can score 45 and they still lose? I don’t think you should ever bad-mouth your opponent. It just pumps you up.”

The Spurs were plenty pumped up Sunday, fueled by Barkley’s earlier comments that he would leave David Robinson second-round playoff tickets. So pumped, in fact, for the nationally televised game that Robinson’s foul trouble didn’t stop them from beating the Suns for the second time this season.

Robinson played only 32 minutes and scored only 23 points, but Elliott came through with 30, and Robinson made two key free throws down the stretch.

“David Robinson was in for only 32 minutes, and Dennis Rodman didn’t even play, and we beat Phoenix,” Spur Coach Bob Hill said. “That makes a statement about our team.”

Added Barkley: “We’ve got a long way to go and they’ve got a long way to go. I hope we play them again in the playoffs. If they go deep in the playoffs, we’ll be there for them.”

The Spurs, trying to finish first in the Western Conference for the first time, play eight of their final 12 games on the road, including a four-game Pacific Division swing that begins Tuesday against the Clippers.

Seattle 105, Atlanta 83--Gary Payton scored nine of his 21 points in the fourth quarter and Shawn Kemp finished with 21 points and 18 rebounds to lead the SuperSonics over the Hawks at Tacoma, Wash.

The Sonics won their seventh in a row, and their victory, combined with San Antonio’s 109-106 decision over Phoenix, vaulted Seattle into first place in the Pacific Division.

The Sonics swept the Hawks for the first time since the 1987-88 season.

Boston 94, Dallas 87--The Mavericks, who joined the NBA in 1980, were trying to win at Boston Garden for the first time in their last try. They finish 0-15 in Boston Garden, which will be torn down after the season.

The Celtics built a 58-41 lead at halftime and were ahead, 73-67, after three quarters. Sherman Douglas, who finished with 27 points and 10 assists, keyed a rally that helped put Boston ahead, 89-73, with five minutes remaining.

Indiana 104, Portland 93--The Trail Blazers, losing for the sixth time in seven games, went more than seven minutes without a field goal while committing four turnovers and missing 12 consecutive shots in the third quarter at Indianapolis. They made only six of 22 from the field in the quarter.

It was learned Portland guard Rod Strickland and Coach P.J. Carlesimo got into an argument during halftime of a loss to Philadelphia on Friday, but neither would talk about it Sunday.

Detroit 110, Washington 105--Joe Dumar scored 22 of his 23 points in the second half to help the Pistons defeat the Bullets at Auburn Hills, Mich.

Detroit also got 33 from Grant Hill, equaling his career high, and 30 from Allan Houston. Chris Webber had 30 for Washington.

Charlotte 105, Miami 92--Alonzo Mourning, in foul trouble throughout the game, scored 22 points in 24 minutes for the Hornets at Miami. Hersey Hawkins also had 22 points for Charlotte, which played without Dell Curry (sprained ankle), Scott Burrell (Achilles’ tear), and Joe Wolf (flu).

Glen Rice scored 30 for the Heat, which played without the injured Billy Owens and Bimbo Coles.

Denver 104, Cleveland 101--Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf scored 32 points and Dikembe Mutombo had a triple-double (18 points, 18 rebounds, 10 blocks) in the Nuggets first road victory over the Cavaliers since 1989.