Shawn Bradley

Charles Barkley scored 20 points and John Williams added six of his eight during a fourth-quarter run as the Phoenix Suns snapped a three-game losing streak with a 98-88 victory over the New Jersey Nets. Michael Finley scored 18 points and Kevin Johnson and Wesley Person each added 16 for the Suns, who have won six straight games over the Nets, including four straight in New Jersey. "I though we got off to a great start, but they came back and I don't think the coach was too happy about that," Barkley said. "They were able to get something going, but we held them off." "The way we're playing now it's going to be a low-scoring game and we're going to have to play good defense," Johnson said. "Charles was fooling around half the game, but like every money player he did what he had to do down the stretch." Suns forward Danny Manning left the game in the second quarter with an injured left ankle in the secopnd quarter. Manning was taken to a hospital. "Danny's X-rays were negative and we don't know how long he's out," Suns coach Cotton Fitzsimmons said. "A lot has happened this year and it's nothing new for he Phoenix Suns. It wouldn't be the Suns if that didn't happen to us." Vern Fleming scored 21 points, Armon Gilliam added 15 and Shawn Bradley had a career-high 10 blocks and 12 rebounds for New Jersey, which has lost 11 straight games to opponents from the Pacific Division. "(It's a) tough situation," Nets coach Butch Beard said. "We played hard, just maybe not as smart as we would have liked to. We had the chance to take control but they were able to do what they had to do and that's why they won the game." After Jayson Williams dunked to give the Nets a 76-71 lead, Barkley hit a 16-footer to ignite a 16-2 run. Person followed with a three-pointer to tie the game at 76-76 before Finley hit a running jumper to give the Suns the lead for good at 78-76. Williams followed with two free throws, Finley nailed a three-pointer, Barkley made two free throws and Williams made a jumper and a pair of free throws to give the Nets an 89-78 advantage with 2:02 to go. Mario Bennett scored eight points as the Suns took a 23-18 lead entering the second quarter. Chris Childs' nine points helped the Nets grab a 41-36 lead at the half. New Jersey held a one-point lead after three quarters behind Fleming's 14 points. Barkley and Williams each had 12 rebounds and Johnson had nine assists for Phoenix, which won despite shooting 38 per cent (32-of-84) from the field, was outrebounded 56-42 and committed 18 turnovers. P.J. Brown had 12 points and 10 rebounds, Childs had 13 points and Jayson Williams grabbed 11 rebounds for New Jersey, which shot 40 per cent (33-of-83) and committed 24 turnovers that led to 33 points for the Suns. Rick Mahorn became the 34th player in N-B-A history to play 1,000 games. "It's just terrible to lose a game at home like this," Brown said. "We just really have not done a real good job since the All-Star break of taking care of home. That's very important when you're trying to get to the playoffs because if you can't take care of home what are you going to do when you get to the playoffs."