Surgeons reattached the tendon that connects the quadriceps muscle to Barkley's left knee. The NBA star ruptured the tendon Wednesday night during the first quarter of the Rockets' 83-73 loss to the 76ers in Philadelphia, where Barkley began his NBA career.

Barkley, 36, had already announced he would retire after this season. He now faces six months of rehabilitation.

"We couldn't be happier with how this thing repaired," Dr. Walter Lowe said after the surgery. "It was nice, healthy tissue."

Barkley's mental focus during rehabilitation, he said Friday night, will be on skiing.

The Rockets are also playing without center Hakeem Olajuwon, who is out until late January while recovering from hernia surgery.