NBA ROUNDUP : Barkley Cheered, Hometown 76ers Jeered

It was an unusual afternoon in the Spectrum: Philadelphia fans booed the home team. Then again, maybe it wasn’t so strange.

Former 76er Charles Barkley returned to the Spectrum on Sunday for the first time since he was traded to Phoenix. He didn’t disappoint, scoring 35 points, including 22 during the second half, to lead the Suns to a 110-100 victory.

Barkley received a standing ovation from the capacity crowd and another ovation as he left with 17 seconds to play.

“The fans were great,” Barkley said. “I’ve never had trouble with fans. They’ve always supported me.”

There was a different reaction to the struggling 76ers, who were booed as they were introduced. The Sixers have lost eight of 10 and 23 of their last 27.

“It’s one of the worst experiences that I’ve ever had in sports,” Philadelphia’s Johnny Dawkins said. “I’ve never seen anything like that, where a home team gets booed like that. It’s very disappointing.”

Barkley, who grumbled constantly about the 76ers’ perceived losing attitude, led Phoenix to its fourth consecutive victory and ninth in 11 games. The Suns have the league’s best record at 52-15 and improved their road record to 22-11.

A fan ran out to hug him in the closing moments, prompting a smile from Barkley.

Barkley downplayed his return to Philadelphia, where he played for eight years.

“My goal is not just to beat the 76ers,” Barkley said. “We look at the big picture.”

Detroit 91, Cleveland 78--Isiah Thomas scored 31 points and the Pistons held the Cavaliers to their lowest point total of the season at Auburn Hills, Mich.

Cleveland, the league’s most accurate shooting team for the season at 50.1%, made only 38% of its shots. Mark Price missed all 11 of his field-goal attempts and scored two points, 17 under his average.

Boston 114, Washington 113--Dee Brown sank a 19-footer from the right corner with two seconds left at Hartford, Conn., as the Celtics hung on for their seventh consecutive victory.

Reggie Lewis led the Celtics with 36 points. Xavier McDaniel scored 22, including eight during the fourth quarter, and had a season-high 14 rebounds. Sherman Douglas added 16 points and had 15 assists.

Portland 121, Charlotte 114--Clyde Drexler and Terry Porter made key fourth-quarter baskets to lead the Trail Blazers at Charlotte, N.C.

Charlotte, trying to earn a spot in the playoffs, suffered its fourth consecutive loss. Portland, fighting for the home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs, won its fourth in a row.

Larry Johnson led Charlotte with 27 points and Alonzo Mourning added 25.

Minnesota 101, Houston 100--Doug West’s basket with four seconds to play led Minnesota past the Rockets at Minneapolis, ending the Timberwolves’ six-game losing streak.

West scored 19 of his 29 points during the fourth quarter to power Minnesota, which had lost 11 of 12 games.

It was the second time this month that the Timberwolves rallied to beat a playoff team by one point at home. Minnesota got a three-point play with two seconds left to edge San Antonio, 106-105, on March 6.

San Antonio 114, Dallas 107--David Robinson scored 20 of his 31 points during the second half as the Spurs continued their dominance of the Mavericks, at San Antonio.

The Spurs defeated the Mavericks for the 14th time in 15 games and swept this season’s series, 5-0.

San Antonio’s lead was narrowed to 94-90 after Donald Hodge’s dunk with 5:28 to play. Robinson then started an 11-2 run with a three-point play, and later added a free throw and a dunk as the Spurs surged to a 13-point lead.

New York 94, Golden State 84--John Starks scored 27 points, Patrick Ewing had 26 points and 13 rebounds and the Knicks held Golden State to a season-low 35 points during the first half at Oakland.

Glenn Rivers played his first game for New York after serving a two-game suspension for fighting and had 11 points and 15 assists.