NBA ROUNDUP : Second Time Rarely Is Charm for Celtics

The Boston Celtics have had trouble winning the second game of back-to-back games all season. With the absence of injured stars Larry Bird and Kevin McHale, it has become even more difficult.

Charles Barkley had 38 points and the 76ers rallied from a 16-point deficit to score a 126-110 victory Saturday night at Philadelphia.

The Celtics also lost at Milwaukee Friday. It was the fourth time in a row the Celtics lost the second game of successive games.

The Celtics have played back-to-back 10 times this season. They have won the second game only twice.

The Celtics opened a 30-14 lead in a little more than nine minutes. Thereafter, it was all Philadelphia.

The 76ers pulled even at halftime, then outscored the Celtics, 73-57, during the second half.

Barkley, who had only six points Friday night in a victory over Orlando, also had 11 rebounds and a flagrant foul.

Barkley was the one hurt on his flagrant foul. He collided with the Celtics’ Sherman Douglas and suffered a loosened tooth. He sat out eight minutes of the second half while the tooth was fixed.

“It just got knocked up into the roof and they pulled it down,” Barkley said. “It really hurt, but I’m all right.”

Armon Gilliam had 26 points and 13 rebounds for the 76ers.

Detroit 89, Atlanta 80--The Hawks seem lost without Dominique Wilkins on offense, but they still are no pushover at Atlanta.

The Pistons led by only 72-70 with 7 1/2 minutes to play, but Isiah Thomas had 10 points and Orlando Woolridge the other seven and the Pistons won going away.

It was the 10th time in a row the Pistons have beaten the Hawks, and they held them to their lowest point total of the season.

Kevin Willis led Atlanta with 22 points. Dennis Rodman had six points and 19 rebounds for Detroit.

Utah 104, Dallas 90--The Mavericks made a game of it for a half at Dallas, but then Karl Malone went to work.

Malone scored 15 of his 26 points during the third quarter as the Jazz stretched a three-point lead to 76-62.

It was the 16th loss in the last 17 games for the Mavericks, who were without Rodney McCray, Doug Smith and Randy White, all of whom are injured.

Phoenix 106, Houston 92--The Suns, taking advantage of a poor performance by Hakeem Olajuwon, easily extended their home winning streak to 17 games.

Jeff Hornacek scored 15 of his 21 points during the first half to help the Suns open a 56-42 lead.

Olajuwon made only five of 14 shots and had only 11 points. Otis Thorpe of the Rockets led both teams with 25 points and 13 rebounds.

The Suns’ club record for consecutive victories at home is 18. They can tie the record by beating the Lakers Monday night and break it by beating Chicago on Wednesday night.

The third-place Suns trail Portland by 1 1/2 games in the Pacific Division.