Barkley Is Latest Casualty

The Houston Rockets need a medical plan that covers replacing star basketball players.

Charles Barkley was the latest injured Rocket, suffering a cut on his left hip in the first quarter Saturday against the Dallas Mavericks.

With Barkley’s departure, Houston turned to Kevin Willis, who responded with 26 points to lead the Rockets’ 89-80 victory over Dallas at Houston.

Barkley was injured when he collided with Shawn Bradley’s kneecap with 7:44 to play in the opening quarter. Barkley was helped off the court and taken to a hospital for X-rays. He needed stitches to close the wound.

“More than likely it will be one of those week-to-10-days things,” Rocket team physician Dr. Walter Lowe said. “We’re all on edge because of these injuries, but this looks good from our standpoint. It doesn’t look like it will turn into anything major.”

It was the second consecutive game the Rockets lost a key player. Guard Brent Price suffered a season-ending knee injury on Thursday against Charlotte. Clyde Drexler also is sidelined with a serious hamstring injury.

Hakeem Olajuwon had 16 points and 11 rebounds to lead the Rockets.

Washington 118, Golden State 108--At Landover, Md., Bullets forward Chris Webber celebrated his 24th birthday with his seventh triple-double--23 points, 15 rebounds and 10 assists--offsetting a 40-point performance by Golden State’s Latrell Sprewell.

Juwan Howard scored 25 points for the Bullets, who had lost 10 of their previous 13 games.

Webber entered the final quarter two rebounds and two assists shy of a triple-double. He got it with 1:04 to play when he fed Tracy Murray for a layup, Webber’s 10th and final assist.

It was Webber’s third consecutive triple-double against the Warriors.

Cleveland 99, Boston 81--Terrell Brandon had 14 of his 19 points in the third quarter and the Cavaliers handed Boston a franchise record-tying 13th consecutive loss at Cleveland.

Brandon struggled early in the first half, going one for six for two points. But he went four for four from the field for 10 points in Cleveland’s 20-5 run to start the third quarter. Brandon’s brilliant left-handed scoop shot gave the Cavaliers a 66-49 lead with 2:22 to play in the third.

Cleveland held the Celtics to 35% shooting. The 13th consecutive loss tied the franchise mark set in 1994.

Antoine Walker led Boston with 21 points.

Sacramento 103, Milwaukee 92--Billy Owens scored a season-high 31 points and grabbed 16 rebounds to lead the road-weary Kings at Milwaukee.

The Kings, playing for the fourth time in five nights, finished their four-game trip at 2-2 by sending the Bucks to their fifth consecutive loss.

Mitch Richmond added 28 points for the Kings, who have won four games in a row against Milwaukee.

Vin Baker led the Bucks with 20 points and 15 rebounds. Glenn Robinson finished with 18 points before fouling out late in the game.