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TNT's Charles Barkley quipped about enduring Dallas' hot weather ahead of Sunday's Game 3 Western Conference finals matchup between the Minnesota Timberwolves and Dallas Mavericks. However, his co-host Shaquille O'Neal used his complaint against him, taking a playful shot at the NBA legend.
During TNT's pregame show, Barkley highlighted how Dallas' weather is hotter than Phoenix's, one of the league's warmest climates.
"I'm just gonna say what everybody is thinking, it is hot as hell down here in Dallas, Texas. It is smoking, y'all," Barkley said. "Words I never thought I'd say: Damn, I wish I was back in Phoenix."
His co-host Ernie Johnson Jr. questioned if it was "really mid-90" degrees (Fahrenheit), to which Barkley responded that "it [seemed] hotter."
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O'Neal pushed back, noting that it "wasn't that hot." That seemingly prompted Barkley to tell a story about his walk earlier in the day, which he cut short due to his inability to deal with the heat.
"I was taking my daily walk, and I made it about a half a block. I said, 'Abort! Abort!'" Barkley said. "I walk every day to get peace and quiet by myself but I aborted today."
After Barkley mentioned his daily quest for "peace and quiet," O'Neal humorously questioned whether he meant "pizza" instead of peace.
"You walked to get what? Pizza and quiet?" O'Neal asked.
Barkley has long been the butt of jokes involving his weight, regularly embracing the gags. However, the 61-year-old appeared to miss O'Neal's latest comments, as he continued talking about his struggles to find relaxation.
Charles Barkley gives Mavericks-related hot take after calling out Dallas' weather
Charles Barkley may not be a fan of Dallas' weather. However, he appeared very confident in the Mavericks ahead of Game 3. The former MVP went as far as to say that if the Mavericks won and took a 3-0 series lead, they should rest their top player, Luka Doncic, in Game 4.
Barkley cited Doncic's injury concerns, as he played through a right knee injury on Sunday. The 25-year-old has been banged up throughout the playoffs but continues to guide Dallas to success.
"Get the game over, and I wouldn't even play Luka in Game 4," Barkley said. "... If they come out tonight, stomp these guys, he gets almost two weeks off. He's been playing on one leg. You have to really be careful when you're playing basketball."
However, the TNT crew seemingly didn't see the logic behind Charles Barkley's take. His co-host Kenny Smith quipped that he would be "fired" if he worked for Dallas.
The Mavericks ultimately secured a 116-107 victory, led by Doncic's game-high-tying 33 points. They can eliminate the Timberwolves during Tuesday's Game 4 home rematch.
NBA teams are 154-0 all-time when leading 3-0 in best-of-seven postseason series. However, Dallas would likely prefer to play Doncic and ensure it takes care of business rather than potentially allow Minnesota an opportunity for a comeback.
