Rockets Lose Game, Barkley

It turned out that Charles Barkley's last game in Philadelphia was his last in the NBA.

The 76ers' 83-73 victory over Barkley's Houston Rockets was an afterthought Wednesday night. Barkley, who started his career in Philadelphia 16 years ago, ended it when he ruptured the quadriceps tendon in his left knee while trying to block a shot in the first quarter.

"I couldn't take my mind off it," said Rockets rookie Steve Francis, whom Barkley gathered under his wing this season. "It's no excuse, we shot the ball terrible, but we weren't even thinking about the game."

Sixers doctor Jack McPhilemy said Barkley will need surgery and at least six months of rehab.

Barkley, 36, cried in the locker room when he learned the extent of the injury and told his wife on the phone, "It's over."

"I do think it was supposed to happen like this," Barkley said. "It was supposed to end in Philadelphia."

After watching the final seconds tick away from behind the Rockets' bench, Barkley got his sixth standing ovation of the night

and hugs from several people, including Sixers coach Larry Brown and assistant Maurice Cheeks, a former teammate.

Hobbling on crutches, Barkley actually stayed for a while and signed autographs before going to the locker room.

"I'm sick the way it ended, because he meant so much to the game," Brown said. "I think it's special it ended here."

Without their veteran star, the Rockets struggled offensively and had their three-game winning streak stopped. Francis scored 18 points for Houston but was 6-of-15 from the field. Now, it is time for Francis to lead the Rockets with Hakeem Olajuwon hurt and Barkley gone for good.

"He sacrificed a lot to be here this year, especially for me," Francis said.

Sixers star Allen Iverson, on the injured list with a broken thumb, missed Barkley's return to Philly. Iverson, who exchanged heated words with Barkley last year, was home with the flu, the team said.

Eric Snow and Aaron McKie each scored 16 points for the Sixers, who improved to 6-3 without Iverson. Larry Hughes, who has been feuding with Brown about playing time, was 2-for-11 with eight points in 11 minutes.

Barkley was trying to block Tyrone Hill's shot when he appeared to lose his balance and hit the floor hard with 4:09 left in the first. He grabbed his left knee, put his mouthpiece in his sock and immediately called for the trainer.

Barkley was 0-for-3 with two rebounds, and the Rockets were leading 13-10 when he was helped to the locker room.

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