The Phoenix Suns and New York Knicks went after first-round sweeps on the same night. Thanks to Charles Barkley, only the Suns got what they wanted.
Barkley, who had never before scored more than 47 points in a regular season or playoff game, had 56 Wednesday as Phoenix completed a three-game sweep of Golden State by outscoring the Warriors 140-133.The Knicks took a 2-0 lead against New Jersey, but Chris Morris' two free throws with 1.5 seconds left in overtime gave the Nets a 93-92 victory and kept them alive in the best-of-5 series.
Barkley, whose back problems this season led him to say he will not play next season, took advantage of Warriors coach Don Nelson's decision not to double-team him by scoring 27 points in the first quarter.
"Obviously, I was making a lot of shots," he said. "They kind of forced the issue by not doubling me. I hope it's not the last time I see single coverage. I kind of like it."
Barkley's 38 first-half points set an NBA playoff record. He finished the game hitting 23-of-31 shots and grabbing 14 rebounds. His total tied for the third-best in playoff history behind Michael Jordan's 63 in 1986 and Elgin Baylor's 61 in 1962.
"Nobody thought he was going to make all his shots," Nelson said. "He had one of the most spectacular games I ever witnessed, as a player and as a coach."
Despite Barkley's heroics, Phoenix didn't take control of the game until the fourth quarter. Trailing 107-106 entering the final period, Phoenix built its lead to 125-117 with 7:35 to play when Barkley converted a three-point play and notched his 50th point.
Golden State closed to 131-129 with 2:07 left on a basket by Latrell Sprewell, who had 27 points, but the Warriors got no closer. The Suns missed just three of their 19 shots in the final period.
The Suns will play the winner of the Houston-Portland series, which resumes Friday night in Portland. Elsewhere in the West, San Antonio is at Utah and Seattle at Denver in tonight's games, with the Jazz and SuperSonics enjoying 2-1 leads.
In the East, where Chicago and Indiana advanced with sweeps of Cleveland and Orlando, tonight's only game has Atlanta at Miami. The Heat, who have never won a playoff series, have a 2-1 lead and are trying to become the first No. 8 seed to beat a No. 1 seed.
The prospect of getting a few days' rest for his back was Barkley's incentive to end the series as quickly as possible.
"It's really bad right now, but I've got a couple of days to rest," he said. "But I'm going to play regardless."
Chris Mullin had 30 points for the Warriors, who were swept in a playoff series for the first time since 1967-68, when the Los Angeles Lakers won four straight in the Western Conference finals.
Dan Majerle scored 24 points and Kevin Johnson had 18 points and 12 assists for the Suns.
Nets 93, Knicks 92 OT
New Jersey led by 16 points late in the third quarter, then had to survive a nine-point fourth quarter to beat New York in overtime.
Morris stepped to the free-throw line with 1.5 seconds left and the Nets trailing 92-91. New York had the lead thanks to a basket with 20 seconds left by Patrick Ewing, who had 27 points and 15 rebounds.
"The first shot was a definite must make," Morris said of the tying free throw. "I took a deep breath, relaxed and it felt good when it left my hand. Then they called timeout to try to cool me. I didn't want to go into a second overtime because anything could happen. I went to the line, took another deep breath, relaxed and the ball caught the rim and went in."
Morris, who scored just eight points in the game and hadn't taken a free throw before his decisive shots, was a reluctant hero.
"It was a lot of pressure," he said. "If it happens again, I'll take it, but I'm not looking to be in that situation."
Derrick Coleman, held to 32 percent shooting the first two games, finished with 25 points and 17 rebounds for the Nets, and Kenny Anderson had 17 points and 11 assists.