Danny Manning scored 17 of his 24 points in a 37-point third quarter as the Phoenix Suns shook off a chilly first half and raced to a 106-85 victory over the turnover-prone New York Knicks on Friday night.
The Suns had an 82-57 lead when the third quarter ended, and Charles Barkley put the game out of reach early in the fourth with a pair of layups.Barkley was 5-for-5 in the second half and had 26 points, 12 rebounds and three steals when he left the game with 8:19 remaining and the Suns ahead 89-59.
Patrick Ewing had 15 points and 12 rebounds for the Knicks.
It was the Suns' fifth straight victory overall and 10th in a row at home, and allowed them to tie a two-season franchise record of 21 straight set from March 2, 1980, to Nov. 30, 1980.
The Suns had 10 steals, contributing to 19 New York turnovers, and outrebounded the Knicks 54-37.
The game was the first in three seasons in which there were no incidents between the teams in Phoenix. Two seasons ago, the game was held up by a bench-clearing brawl, and Barkley and Charles Oakley were ejected here last season after a slapping incident.
Bulls 85, Hawks 80
At Atlanta, Scottie Pippen scored 22 points and B.J. Armstrong hit two key 15-footers in the final 3:46 of the Chicago Bulls' victory over the Atlanta Hawks.
Kukoc added 11 points and Armstrong and Wennington had 10 each for the Bulls. Andrew Lang scored 14, all in the first half, for the Hawks.
Pacers 93, Hornets 91
At Indianapolis, Reggie Miller scored 22 points and hit two free throws with six seconds left, giving the Indiana Pacers a 93-91 victory over the Charlotte Hornets.
Larry Johnson led the Hornets with 22 points.
Cavaliers 84, 76ers 80
At Philadelphia, Terrell Brandon scored 15 points - including two crucial free throws with 16 seconds left - as the Cleveland Cavaliers won their fifth straight game, over the Philadelphia 76ers.
Mark Price, who has had recent back spasms and did not play in Wednesday night's victory over New Jersey, was kicked in the back during a melee under the Cavs basket with 3:19 to play, and left the game with 14 points.
Dana Barros had a career-high 30 points for the 76ers. Philadelphia's Shawn Bradley, whose 4.5 personal foul average leads the league, fouled out in the final seconds.
Timberwolves 94, Nets 93
At Minneapolis, Isaiah Rider converted a three-point play with two seconds left, and the Minnesota Timberwolves snapped a 14-game home losing streak with a victory over the New Jersey Nets.
Rider, who held his own press conference Monday to respond to criticism from coach Bill Blair about his lack of leadership, sparked the Wolves with 27 points.
Magic 131, Warriors 128
At Oakland, Calif., Shaquille O'Neal scored 40 points and Anfernee Hardaway had a career-high 38, including a pair of free throws with 7.2 seconds left in overtime, as Orlando defeated Golden State.
Golden State lost its ninth straight despite a season-high 40-point effort by Latrell Sprewell and Tim Hardaway's 22-assist, 15-point night.
Hardaway, whose 3-point basket with 24 seconds left in regulation forced the extra period, missed a desperation 3-pointer just before the overtime period expired.