PHILADELPHIA -- The Milwaukee Bucks probably wanted to file theft charges while the Philadelphia 76ers said it was simply a case of delayed justice.
After trailing for most of the game, the 76ers forced overtime Tuesday night and then handed the Bucks a 109-108 setback when Charles Barkley sank two free throws after time had expired.
Ron Anderson and Rick Mahorn missed shots and Barkley was attempting to go up for another shot as the horn sounded and referee Mike Costabile's whistle was heard.
Costabile called Jack Sikma for fouling Barkley and he made both free throw with zeroes showing on the clock to give the 76ers their ninth win in ten home games.
'I got fouled,' said Barkley, who scored a season-high 42 points. 'The guy's got guts to call it. Most refs wouldn't call that.'
The Bucks complained and showed disgust at the call on the court, but tempered their remaks in the locker room.
'I cannot comment on the referee one way or another,' Coach Del Harris said.
Added Sikma, 'It is disappointing when you play well enough to win and you do not get it done. We had two opportunities to win. I did not get a chance to talk to the referee about the call.'
Hersey Hawkins, who added 28 points, said the victory, however tainted, made up for a loss to Detroit last week in which Philadelphia led for most of the way before faltering at the end.
Added guard Rickey Green, 'We lost one to Detroit that we should have won and we evened it up tonight.'
Asked if he was surprised by the call, Hawkins said, 'Sorta, but when they hold a guy and hack him, you have to call it.'
Milwaukee got 26 points from Alvin Robertson and 20 from Sikma.
Anderson hit a jumper and Hawkins sank two free throws to draw the 76ers within 108-107 with 34.7 seconds to go in overtime and Sikma was called for an offensive foul with 16.7 seconds left, giving the 76ers' possession and a chance to set up for the last shot.
Fred Roberts scored on a dunk and Robertson followed with a three- point play after a Philadelphia turnover to give the Bucks a 108-103 lead.
Barkley scored on a driving layup to tie the score at 100-100 with 10.3 seconds left in the fourth quarter as the 76ers came back from an 88-76 deficit early in the period.
Robertson missed on a drive to the basket with two seconds to go and Barkley grabbed the rebound but the 76ers were unable to get a shot off before time expired to force the overtime.
Philadelphia scored eight straight points to close within 88-84 on two free throws by Hawkins with 7:31 to play in the fourth quarter. Milwaukee built its lead back to six points on four occasions but Barkley scored on a drive to bring the 76ers within 100-98 with 47.4 seconds to go in regulation.
The Bucks then committed a 24-second violation to turn the ball over and give the 76ers the chance to tie after trailing since early in the first quarter.
Milwaukee scored the last seven points of the third quarter to take an 86-74 lead after the 76ers had closed within 73-71 on a pair of free throws by Barkley and 57-56 on a hook shot by Mike Gminski.
The Bucks led by as many as ten points twice in the second quarter but the 76ers drew within 55-50 at halftime on a pair of free throws by Barkley.
Frank Brickowski and Dan Schayes each scored eight points in the first quarter as Milwaukee recovered from an early 8-4 deficit and led 33-26 at the end of the period.
Milwaukee's Ricky Pierce did not play because of a pulled groin muscle.
