Sonic Report / Seattle 111, Phoenix Suns 108

On yesterday's "NBA Insiders" show on NBC, Peter Vecsey said Sonic Coach George Karl had referred to Phoenix point guard Kevin Johnson as "The Desert Princess."

After the game, Karl, who has taken shots at Johnson in the past, said he hadn't made that reference to Vecsey.

"I haven't said that. They're trying to re-dig that up, or something," Karl said. "Kevin and I had a meeting at the All-Star Game and I thought we worked out what I was trying to do.

"I told him I'm not into that, being confrontational with him. I told him I think he is a great player. It seems like somebody dug it up again and had me quoted for it and I haven't said it."

-- Charles Barkley was called for a flagrant foul against Shawn Kemp with just over six minutes left, a call that enraged Barkley. Referee Bill Spooner quickly added a technical foul against him.

After the game, Barkley went after lead referee Joey Crawford and had to be restrained by his teammates.

Asked about it, Barkley bristled.

"That's private," he said. "I's between me and the ref and it's none of your (expletive) business."

Crawford said he would report Barkley's behavior to the league office.

Barkley has played an average of 33.5 minutes since returning from his quadriceps injury. He says his body "feels better than it has all season."

Asked before yesterday's game about his retirement plans, Barkley said, "I'll worry about that after the season. Today, I have Shawn Kemp and the Sonics to worry about. I'll worry about the future in the future."

-- The Sonics had only seven turnovers, none in the fourth quarter.

-- After scoring 40 points in the first quarter, the Sonics scored just 39 points and hit 11 of 40 field-goal attempts in the second and third quarters combined. The 40 points were a season-high for Seattle in a first quarter and the most given up by the Suns in a quarter this season.

-- Sign in the stands: "Payton is God." Another: "Go Blazers."

-- Talk around the league has ex-Sonic Coach K.C. Jones getting a coaching gig for next season. Among teams being mentioned are Minnesota and Portland.

-- The Suns were without guard Danny Ainge, who missed his third straight game with the flu, and assistant coach Scotty Robertson, whom the team says has been hospitalized because of phlebitis. Robertson, who had to be hospitalized earlier this season because of pneumonia, was taken to Swedish Hospital Medical Center when the Suns arrived here by plane Saturday. A hospital spokeswoman said his condition is stable.