Super Sonics 111, Trail Blazers 99

While Rashard Lewis probably didn't realize his play on words, his comments after Seattle beat Portland couldn't have been more appropriate.

``The first quarter we really came out blazin','' he said.

Lewis scored 37 points, 20 in the first quarter, and the SuperSonics beat the Trail Blazers and former coach Nate McMillan 111-99 Friday night.

It was the first time McMillan had faced his former team in the regular season, and it got bad quickly with the Blazers trailing by as many as 33 points in the first half.

Ray Allen had 24 points for Seattle, which snapped a three-game losing streak that included a 104-98 loss at home to Houston the night before.

Portland managed to narrow the margin to 104-96 on Steve Blake's 3-pointer with 1:17 left in the game, but the rally didn't last.

The Blazers had a long closed-door meeting after the game.

``It was me talking to this team, not only about this game but where we stand as an organization,'' McMillan said.

The Blazers, who have lost nine of their last 10 games, were without starting point guard Sebastian Telfair, who has a sprained ligament in his right thumb. Blake took his place in the starting lineup and finished with 19 points and 13 assists.

The Sonics led 37-16 at the end of the first quarter. Lewis' 3-pointer put the Sonics up 57-27 midway through the second quarter and Seattle led 67-46 at the half.

It was the most points the Sonics have scored in the first half this season, and the most points Portland has given up.

``I really was feeling like I was in a rhythm and every time I shot the ball it was going to go in,'' Lewis said.

McMillan wore a frown throughout the game.

He spent 19 seasons with the Sonics as a player, assistant and head coach. He was so popular he earned the nickname Mr. Sonic and his jersey hangs in the rafters of Key Arena.

McMillan was hired by the northwest rival Trail Blazers in the offseason after he failed to agree to a contract extension with the Sonics.

Seattle replaced him with Bob Weiss, who spent 11 seasons as an assistant with the Sonics under George Karl, Paul Westphal and McMillan.

McMillan replaced Maurice Cheeks, who was fired last March and replaced in the interim by director of player personnel Kevin Pritchard. The Blazers finished last season 27-55.

Last season McMillan led the Sonics to 52 wins and the Western Conference semifinals.

Allen said it wasn't that strange to play against McMillan rather than for him.

``For us to come here it's not that big a deal, but when he comes into our building he's going to get a big standing ovation,'' he said.

The Blazers were clearly going to give him new challenges this season. The young team has won just six games.

Portland also was struggling without forward Darius Miles, who has been on the inactive list since Dec. 4 with cartilage damage in his right knee and had arthroscopic surgery on Friday. There was no timetable for his return.

The Blazers were led by Zach Randolph's 23 points and eight rebounds.

Notes: Sonics guard Luke Ridnour got elbowed in a pregame huddle and had to have three stitches in his head, but he still started. He fidgeted with a headband he wore during the game to protect the gash. ``He looked like a little kid out there going to school and his mom put something on him that we didn't want to wear,'' Allen joked. Ridnour bumped into center Vitaly Potapenko. ... Ridnour, who played for the University of Oregon, was greeted by shouts of ``Luke!'' when he was introduced. ... Lewis' season high was 41 points at Toronto on Nov. 13. ... Portland's largest margin of defeat this season was 45 points. The Suns beat the Blazers 130-85 in Phoenix on Dec. 6.


Seattle SuperSonics - Portland Trail Blazers Goals Total 1 2 3 OT Shootout
Seattle SuperSonics 111
Portland Trail Blazers 99

Kings 123, SuperSonics 104

Bonzi Wells listened intently to the message coach Rick Adelman gave his struggling Sacramento Kings: Feed off the negativity and find a positive approach.

Wells scored a season-high 31 and Peja Stojakovic broke out of a shooting slump with 23 to help the Kings snap a five-game losing streak with a 123-104 victory over the Seattle SuperSonics on Saturday night.

Sacramento broke its longest losing streak since the 1997-98 season when the Kings dropped 12 straight.

``This is the type of game we can have when we're all clicking at the same time,'' Wells said. ``We've been trying to get off the slide the last however many games. We really needed this one.''

Sacramento overwhelmed Seattle 30-13 in the third quarter, turning a five-point lead at halftime into a laugher.

The Kings offense clicked with the precision most expected at the start of the season. Wells knocked down numerous open jumpers to go along with a handful of layups and dunks, making 13 of 22 shots - seven of 10 in the second half - and had eight rebounds.

Mike Bibby scored 24 points, Shareef Abdur-Rahim added 17 and Brad Miller had 15 for the Kings, whose starters outscored Seattle's 110-64.

``They were resilient and the more the game went on, the more confident we got,'' Adelman said.

A night after holding Utah to 90 points - only the fifth team Seattle held under 100 this season - Sacramento scored in every manner.

Miller directed the Kings' offense with efficiency, finding open shooters and capitalizing on mismatches. Miller had 10 assists after three quarters and Sacramento eclipsed the 100-point mark with 9:40 left in the game. The Kings had 30 assists on 43 made baskets and shot a season-high 58 percent.

``Offensively, we played so well,'' Adelman said. ``I thought the way we started the third quarter was huge.''

Ahead 62-57 at halftime, the Kings started the third with a 13-4 run. Bibby missed the first shot of the half, but Sacramento made five of its next six attempts, including Stojakovic's fourth 3-pointer. Abdur-Rahim's layup with 7:28 left in the quarter gave the Kings a 14-point lead.

Disgusted Seattle coach Bob Weiss called timeout and benched all five of his starters at the 7:26 mark with Seattle down 75-61. The move did not spark a rally.

Instead, Sacramento went ahead 84-64 on Wells' three-point play. The lead grew as large as 24.

``I don't think this is a bad defensive team. We just didn't take away one thing,'' Seattle's Ray Allen said. ``You can't stop everything, but you have to stop something. We didn't do that.''

Allen led Seattle with 24 points, and had a scare with 8:45 left after taking a hard foul from Abdur-Rahim. Allen drove to the basket and scored, but was hit by Abdur-Rahim and landed awkwardly with his left leg tucked underneath him.

Allen made both free throws, then went directly to the locker room with trainer Mike Shimensky. Allen quickly returned, checking in 61 seconds later. Afterward, Allen said his knee wasn't too bad, but was sore.

Rashard Lewis added 17 points for Seattle.

``We were running in mud all night,'' Weiss said. ``We've won four out of the last six, but we feel like we lost them all.''

Stojakovic injured his right pinky finger in the first matchup with Seattle on Nov. 20. He missed three games and had slumped since returning, averaging 10.5 points and shooting 29 percent.

He made his first four shots and five of his first six shots on Saturday, including three 3-pointers, nearly half his total of eight in the last six games. He was 6-of-10 in the first half, and took just four shots in the second half, making two.

``I was aggressive from the first minute,'' Stojakovic said. ``I'm just trying to get better and get back to the shape I was before I got hurt. I don't have a great touch for the ball, but it's getting better each and every game.''

In the first meeting, Stojakovic had 25 points at halftime, making nine of 10 shots in the first half. Early in the third quarter of that game he took a hard slap from Seattle's Danny Fortson, injuring the finger.

Notes: Fortson was suspended by the league for Saturday's game for verbally abusing an official and not leaving the court in a timely manner following an ejection Friday night in Utah. ... Sacramento is the only team in the NBA to have a guard (Wells) lead the team in rebounding and a center (Miller) lead in assists. ... Seattle's Luke Ridnour missed a free throw in the second quarter, his second miss of the season. He's 53-for-55.


Sacramento Kings - Seattle SuperSonics Goals Total 1 2 3 OT Shootout
Sacramento Kings 123
Seattle SuperSonics 104

Kings 123, SuperSonics 104

Bonzi Wells listened intently to the message coach Rick Adelman gave his struggling Sacramento Kings: Feed off the negativity and find a positive approach.

Wells scored a season-high 31 and Peja Stojakovic broke out of a shooting slump with 23 to help the Kings snap a five-game losing streak with a 123-104 victory over the Seattle SuperSonics on Saturday night.

Sacramento broke its longest losing streak since the 1997-98 season when the Kings dropped 12 straight.

``This is the type of game we can have when we're all clicking at the same time,'' Wells said. ``We've been trying to get off the slide the last however many games. We really needed this one.''

Sacramento overwhelmed Seattle 30-13 in the third quarter, turning a five-point lead at halftime into a laugher.

The Kings offense clicked with the precision most expected at the start of the season. Wells knocked down numerous open jumpers to go along with a handful of layups and dunks, making 13 of 22 shots - seven of 10 in the second half - and had eight rebounds.

Mike Bibby scored 24 points, Shareef Abdur-Rahim added 17 and Brad Miller had 15 for the Kings, whose starters outscored Seattle's 110-64.

``They were resilient and the more the game went on, the more confident we got,'' Adelman said.

A night after holding Utah to 90 points - only the fifth team Seattle held under 100 this season - Sacramento scored in every manner.

Miller directed the Kings' offense with efficiency, finding open shooters and capitalizing on mismatches. Miller had 10 assists after three quarters and Sacramento eclipsed the 100-point mark with 9:40 left in the game. The Kings had 30 assists on 43 made baskets and shot a season-high 58 percent.

``Offensively, we played so well,'' Adelman said. ``I thought the way we started the third quarter was huge.''

Ahead 62-57 at halftime, the Kings started the third with a 13-4 run. Bibby missed the first shot of the half, but Sacramento made five of its next six attempts, including Stojakovic's fourth 3-pointer. Abdur-Rahim's layup with 7:28 left in the quarter gave the Kings a 14-point lead.

Disgusted Seattle coach Bob Weiss called timeout and benched all five of his starters at the 7:26 mark with Seattle down 75-61. The move did not spark a rally.

Instead, Sacramento went ahead 84-64 on Wells' three-point play. The lead grew as large as 24.

``I don't think this is a bad defensive team. We just didn't take away one thing,'' Seattle's Ray Allen said. ``You can't stop everything, but you have to stop something. We didn't do that.''

Allen led Seattle with 24 points, and had a scare with 8:45 left after taking a hard foul from Abdur-Rahim. Allen drove to the basket and scored, but was hit by Abdur-Rahim and landed awkwardly with his left leg tucked underneath him.

Allen made both free throws, then went directly to the locker room with trainer Mike Shimensky. Allen quickly returned, checking in 61 seconds later. Afterward, Allen said his knee wasn't too bad, but was sore.

Rashard Lewis added 17 points for Seattle.

``We were running in mud all night,'' Weiss said. ``We've won four out of the last six, but we feel like we lost them all.''

Stojakovic injured his right pinky finger in the first matchup with Seattle on Nov. 20. He missed three games and had slumped since returning, averaging 10.5 points and shooting 29 percent.

He made his first four shots and five of his first six shots on Saturday, including three 3-pointers, nearly half his total of eight in the last six games. He was 6-of-10 in the first half, and took just four shots in the second half, making two.

``I was aggressive from the first minute,'' Stojakovic said. ``I'm just trying to get better and get back to the shape I was before I got hurt. I don't have a great touch for the ball, but it's getting better each and every game.''

In the first meeting, Stojakovic had 25 points at halftime, making nine of 10 shots in the first half. Early in the third quarter of that game he took a hard slap from Seattle's Danny Fortson, injuring the finger.

Notes: Fortson was suspended by the league for Saturday's game for verbally abusing an official and not leaving the court in a timely manner following an ejection Friday night in Utah. ... Sacramento is the only team in the NBA to have a guard (Wells) lead the team in rebounding and a center (Miller) lead in assists. ... Seattle's Luke Ridnour missed a free throw in the second quarter, his second miss of the season. He's 53-for-55.


Sacramento Kings - Seattle SuperSonics Goals Total 1 2 3 OT Shootout
Sacramento Kings 123
Seattle SuperSonics 104

SuperSonics 107, Pacers 102

When the Indiana Pacers stopped Seattle's transition game, the SuperSonics showed their ability and efficiency running a half-court offense.

Ray Allen scored 25 points and was one of four SuperSonics in double figures as Seattle won its third straight game, 107-102 over Indiana on Sunday night.

``Our execution has come in a lot better this year. We're learning to score in more ways,'' Seattle coach Bob Weiss said.

For the second straight game, Seattle's subs provided a needed lift. Allen and Rashard Lewis managed just two points for the first 10 minutes of the fourth quarter, but backup guard Ronald Murray picked up the slack, scoring eight of his 18 in the fourth.

Murray again provided scoring and energy in a reserve role. After scoring a season-high 24 on Friday against Cleveland, Murray scored 14 points in the second half, and Seattle's reserves outscored Indiana 36-13.

``It's made the biggest difference. There's not a lot of teams in the NBA that can come with guys off their bench that can produce on both ends of the floor,'' Allen said. ``That's definitely been the difference in this team when we win and when we lose.''

Ron Artest tied his season-high with 30 points and Jermaine O'Neal added 22 for the Pacers, who looked lethargic at times as they wrapped up a five-game, eight-day road trip. Afterward, Artest said the long road trip had no effect on Indiana's performance.

``Our energy wasn't what theirs was and that had a lot to do with it,'' Indiana coach Rick Carlisle said.

The SuperSonics picked up a second straight win over a Central Division opponent. They beat Cleveland 115-108 on Friday. In that game, Seattle's subs outscored the Cavaliers' 51-30.

``We're just trying help the starters continue what they were doing,'' Murray said. ``We're just trying to bring a whole lot energy, and keep the rhythm going and the pace going.''

The Sonics appeared to put the tiring Pacers away with a quick burst at the start of the fourth quarter. Seattle went ahead 90-77 with 8:58 left on an ally-oop from Lewis to Vladimir Radmanovic, forcing Carlisle to call timeout.

Seattle extended its lead to 16 before the Pacers made a final run.

Steven Jackson scored, and Artest followed with a 3-pointer and fastbreak layup to get Indiana within 98-89 with 3:48 left.

Artest made two free throws with 1:33 left and the Pacers were within 100-93. Allen made his second basket of the quarter with 1:12 left. Artest answered, but missed a 3-pointer with 35 seconds.

Lewis shot 4-for-5 from the line in the final minute to help seal the win for the Sonics. Seattle outscored Indiana 26-13 at the line.

Artest was defended by a host of Sonics, mostly power forward Reggie Evans, reserve Damien Wilkins and occasionally Lewis. He tied a season-high with 11 field goals, and noticed that Seattle did not give Lewis the defensive assignment.

``For some reason, he didn't seem to want to guard me,'' Artest said. ``But, whatever, they're a good team.''

Lewis finished with 23 points on 6-for-17 shooting, the sixth straight game in which the 6-foot-10 forward scored at least 20 points.

Sarunas Jasikevicius added 16 points and nine assists in his second start for the Pacers, and Jackson finished with 15. The Pacers shot 53 percent, but were outrebounded 37-28.

Instead of trying to run the fatigued Pacers out of the building, Seattle was content not to push the tempo in the first half. The SuperSonics had just two fastbreak points in the half and finished with 11 in the game.

``It was headed ... toward being a game in the 80s,'' Carlisle said. ``I felt we had a good chance to win, and then they caught a spurt.''

Seattle led 49-46 at halftime and picked up the tempo early in the third quarter, starting the half on a 12-2 run to take a 61-48 lead.

Indiana wrapped up its longest road-trip of the season 3-2, falling in Phoenix and picking up wins over the Clippers, Utah and Portland.

Notes: The Pacers played without starters Jamaal Tinsley (groin) and Austin Croshere (abdominal). ... Indiana had been 2-0 on Sunday's this season. ... Seattle F Danny Fortson tied a season-high with nine points before fouling out in the fourth quarter.


Indiana Pacers - Seattle SuperSonics Goals Total 1 2 3 OT Shootout
Indiana Pacers 102
Seattle SuperSonics 107