Charles Barkley said Wednesday that he would honor his bet with TNT co-analyst Kenny Smith by smooching his colleague’s rear end on Barkley’s talk show.
Barkley’s bet came last Thursday as he and Smith debated the weaker-than-expected game of Yao Ming, the Rockets’ 7-foot-5-inch rookie center from China.
Barkley said he’d kiss the above-mentioned part of Smith’s anatomy if Yao scored 19 points in a game. At the time, the bet seemed a safe one for Barkley: Yao averaged just 3.3 points in his first six games before he scored 10 points on 5-of-6 shooting in a loss Friday to Phoenix.
Just two nights later, Yao scored 20 points–making all nine of his field-goal attempts–in a 93-89 victory over the Lakers.
“I am going to pay up [Thursday] night,” Barkley said Wednesday. “If you make a bet, you pay up. I just told Kenny to take a shower before the show. I made the bet and I’m going to stick by my word.”
RESULTS, WEDNESDAY’S SYNOPSIS
Bulls 94 at Golden State 100
Indiana 97 at Toronto 95
Al Harrington scored 16 of his 22 points in the second half as the Pacers matched their best start of 9-1 set in 1969-70.
New Jersey 79 at Boston 96
Tony Delk and Shammond Williams each scored 21 points to lead the Celtics in a rematch of last season’s Eastern finalists.
Minnesota 103 at Atlanta 93
Troy Hudson scored 20 points as the Timberwolves survived an off night (15 points) by Kevin Garnett.
Miami 68 at Detroit 79
The Pistons’ Ben Wallace had 19 rebounds, a season-best 12 points and tied a franchise high with 10 blocks.
L.A. Lakers 88 at San Antonio 95
Stephen Jackson scored a career-high 28 points, including eight three-pointers, for the Spurs.
Philadelphia 95 at Memphis 88
Allen Iverson scored 33 points as the 76ers kept the Grizzlies the NBA’s only winless team with their 12th straight loss.
Utah 96 at Denver 79
Karl Malone scored 21 points, including 16 in the second half, as the Jazz handed the Nuggets their fifth straight loss.
Orlando 84 at Portland 98
Rasheed Wallace had 26 points and 14 rebounds and Derek Anderson added 26 points for the Trail Blazers.
Sacramento 93 at L.A. Clippers 89
Chris Webber and Bobby Jackson each scored 19 points as the Kings won for just the third time in seven road games.
