Barkley, Houston Ejected In Orlando

March 28, 1998 / 12:38 AM EST / CBS/AP

Charles Barkley was steaming. Not about Houston's 25-point loss to Orlando, but the fact that he wasn't around for the end of it.

The Rockets forward was ejected for his second technical foul with 9:02 remaining in a 100-75 setback. Barkley shrugged it off as just one of those nights for Houston before criticizing referee Jack Nies for tossing him.

Barkley picked up his first technical for protesting the lack of a call in the second quarter. He drew his second technical after he appeared to be held going after a pass that turned into one of the Rockets' 24 turnovers.

"I'd like to say one thing about Jack Nies. I think he is a gutless official who holds grudges," said Barkley, who was fined and suspended for an incident with the official last season.

"For him to toss me for no reason ... since we had our altercation, I've always thought he was gutless. He did nothing to dispute that tonight. That's all I've got to say."

But Barkley wasn't finished.

"I didn't say anything. But he is a gutless man. He is a gutless official. And he holds grudges. Ya'll print that because I want the NBA to call me."

Derek Strong scored 20 points and Horace Grant had 19 as Orlando gave Chuck Daly his 600th career victory and moved into a three-way tie with New Jersey and Washington for the eighth playoff spot in the East.

The triumph also gave the Magic a sweep of the two-game season series for the fourth straight season, although Houston dominated the most meaningful games between the teams during that stretch by winning four straight in the 1995 NBA Finals.

With Nick Anderson sidelined for the third time in four games because of a strained left hamstring, Orlando got balanced scoring from Grant, Strong, Derek Harper and Bo Outlaw, who each had 13 points.

Daly is the 15th coach in NBA history to win 600 regular-season games.

Orlando was never in the game against the Bulls on Wednesday night, but the Magic jumped on the Rockets early and didn't let up.

"We were coming off a devastating loss. (Chicago) outclassed us, outworked us and outplayed us. We thought we were a little better team than that," Daly said.

"We played tonight about as well as we have," Daly said. "This game was all about defense, rebounds and no second shots. It's the way we're going to have to play with the people we have out."

The Rockets, who had won seven of their previous eight games, clinched a playoff berth with a road victory at Indiana on Wednesday night. They fell behind by 18 in the second quarter against the Magic and didn't get closer than 14 the rest of the way.

Kevin Willis led Houston with 20 points. Hakeem Olajuwon was the only other Rockets player in double figures with 12 points and 13 rebouns, while Barkley had eight points as a reserve before being ejected.

The Magic should have known it was their night early in the second quarter when Outlaw, who had attempted just three 3-pointers all season, retrieved a loose ball in the backcourt before spinning and heaving a shot from halfcourt that went in as the 24-second clock expired.

Orlando led 48-33 at the half, shooting 48 percent from the field while holding the Rockets to 35 percent. Although Olajuwon had nine rebounds, he shot 3-for-9 and was outscored 8-6 by Magic center Danny Schayes.

^Notes: The Rockets played without Clyde Drexler (right groin strain). The injury report listed Barkley (left shoulder strain/contusion) as out, but he played 18 minutes ... Houston currently holds the seventh playoff position in the Western Conference ... Daly reached 600 victories in 1,014 games. Only Pat Riley (832), Red Auerbach (953), Jerry Sloan (970) and Don Nelson (1,004) hit the mark faster.

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