Rocket Science Sets Suns Houston Proves Comeback Formula Again, Shocking Barkley Into More Retirement Talk

The Houston Rockets bucked NBA history and will get another chance to defend their title. Charles Barkley said it’s more than likely over for him.

The Rockets added another chapter to their Clutch City history Saturday, winning their eighth straight playoff elimination game in two years, 115-114 over the Phoenix Suns in Game 7. That brought them back from a 3-1 series deficit and made them the first visiting team to win a Game 7 since Philadelphia in 1982. They are just the fifth team to ever come back from down 3-1.

As the win sent Houston to San Antonio for the conference title, the loss, the Suns’ second straight at home, had Barkley talking retirement.

Barkley, however, said similar things last season when the Suns were eliminated from the playoffs in the second round by the Rockets in seven games.

“It’s not like last year when I wasn’t healthy. This year, I broke down again in the playoffs and sometimes you have to listen to your body,” the 32-year-old nine-time All-Star said after getting 18 points and 23 rebounds.

“More than likely, I have played my last game. There’s no soul-searching. It’s not even a big deal. I’m not saying it’s 100 percent, but I’m pretty sure about things right now.

“It’s just time. I had my mind made up most of the season, and I’ve been feeling this way for the last six months.”

Mario Elie made Barkley’s decision easier, canning a 3-pointer from the corner with 7.1 seconds left broke a 110-110 tie and gave the defending champions the lead for good.

“We wanted to go to Clyde (Drexler), but they kept doubling off me all day,” Elie said. “We spread out real well, Danny Ainge left me open, and I didn’t hesitate. It felt good when it left my hands, and it hit nothing but bottom.”

“We made it close and pulled it out with some real big plays at the end,” Rockets coach Rudy Tomjanovich said. “I was just hoping it would hit net. That is probably the biggest shot of his life.”

Drexler and Hakeem Olajuwon scored 29 points each to overcome a career-high 46 by Phoenix’s Kevin Johnson as the Rockets advanced to the conference finals that start Monday night in San Antonio.

After Elie’s basket gave the Rockets the lead, the Suns were fouled twice beyond the 3-point line. Both times, the fouls were committed before the shot.

Dan Majerle made both of his free throws, but Drexler matched them with 3.5 seconds left. Then Ainge made two, the second one unintentionally after he tried to miss it, leaving the Suns down by one.

Ainge intercepted an in-bounds pass with 2 seconds left, but his 55-foot attempt was off.

“There’s no excuses,” said Johnson, who set his playoff high with 43 points in Game 4, had scored 44 in March 1990 and had 10 assists in this one. “We should have won Game 5. I thought we learned our lesson last year, and obviously we didn’t. We’re losers.”

The Suns’ last lead was 109-108 on two free throws by Ainge with 1:05 left. But Kenny Smith made two free throws with 45 seconds to go, and Johnson was only able to tie it when he missed his second free throw with 21 seconds left after having made 21 straight for the game.

Ainge had 13 of his 19 points in the last quarter.

“I really believe that in a sevengame series, the team that deserves to win will win,” coach Paul Westphal said. “We congratulate Houston. It’s a very tough loss for us.”

Drexler had 14 points and Sam Cassell 12 of his 18 in the third quarter, when the Rockets roared from a 51-41 halftime deficit to an 81-79 lead and did most of it with Olajuwon resting on the bench.

Rockets 115, Suns 114

HOUSTON (115)

Chilcutt 4-5 3-4 12, Horry 2-4 0-0 5, Olajuwon 10-21 9-17 29, Drexler 11-19 6-7 29, Smith 3-8 3-4 10, Cassell 6-10 5-5 18, Brown 1-2 2-2 4, Elie 2-5 3-3 8. Totals 39-74 31-42 115.

PHOENIX (114)

Barkley 7-16 4-5 18, Green 3-4 2-4 8, Kleine 2-2 0-0 4, Johnson 12-26 21-22 46, Person 1-6 0-0 3, Schayes 1-1 0-0 2, Majerle 1-7 4-4 6, Tisdale 1-2 1-2 3, Perry 2-4 1-2 5, Ainge 5-8 5-5 19.Totals 35-76 38-44 114.

Houston 13 28 40 34 - 115 Phoenix 26 25 28 35 - 114

3-Point goals-Houston 6-17 (Chilcutt 1-2, Horry 1-2, Drexler 1-3, Cassell 1-3, Elie 1-3, Smith 1-4), Phoenix 6-20 (Ainge 4-6, Johnson 1-2, Person 1-4, Perry 0-1, Green 0-1, Barkley 0-2, Majerle 0-4). Fouled out-Cassell. Rebounds-Houston 39 (Olajuwon 11), Phoenix 54 (Barkley 23). Assists-Houston 23 (Cassell 7), Phoenix 18 (Johnson 10). Total fouls-Houston 35, Phoenix 33. Technical-Houston illegal defense. A-19,023 (19,023).