Referee Gets Poked by Barkley

The Houston Rockets lost their poise, lost again to one of the NBA’s worst teams and may have lost Charles Barkley to a suspension for poking the nose of a referee and drawing blood.

Almost lost in a tumultuous second half Thursday at Houston was the San Antonio Spurs’ best outing of a so-far ugly season, a 115-101 victory that was their second in a row and only their fifth in 22 games.

Barkley and teammate Clyde Drexler were ejected for drawing their second technical fouls while arguing a call. Barkley pointed at referee Jack Nies, and his fingernail caused a cut on Nies’ nose.

In the milling of shouting and gesturing players, Nies got poked.

Asked what happened after that, Barkley said: “I don’t know. Maybe he blew his nose too hard.”

Chicago 93, Charlotte 72--Michael Jordan scored 35 points and Scottie Pippen and Steve Kerr helped the Bulls turn back a Hornet rally at Charlotte.

Pippen had 19 points and Kerr added seven of his 10 in the fourth quarter.

Glen Rice had 23 to lead the Hornets, whose only two losses in their last seven games have come against the Bulls.

Utah 94, Miami 87--Karl Malone scored 35 points and moved within 10 rebounds of 10,000 for his career to help the Jazz beat the Heat in overtime at Miami.

Utah rallied from a nine-point deficit in the last 3 1/2 minutes of regulation, and Miami scored only two baskets over the final seven minutes, including overtime.

Toronto 96, Milwaukee 93--Damon Stoudamire had 19 points, 12 assists and one of the game’s handful of key steals in the final minute to lead the Raptors past the Bucks at Toronto.

Doug Christie added 17 points and another important steal in the final 60 seconds.

Vin Baker had 21 points and 11 rebounds for the Bucks.

Dallas 105, Vancouver 98--Derek Harper, filling in for injured Jason Kidd, scored seven of his 22 points during a 16-point fourth-quarter run as the Mavericks won at Vancouver,

Harper finished nine for 14 and had a team-high 11 assists.

Anthony Peeler scored 25 points for the Grizzlies.

Sacramento 112, Minnesota 105--Olden Polynice scored six of his 18 points in the final three minutes as the Kings held off the Timberwolves at Sacramento.

Mitch Richmond scored 31 points as the Kings snapped a three-game losing streak. Tom Gugliotta had a season-high 33 points for Minnesota.