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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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 GAME FLOW
SEATTLE (AP) -- If the Seattle SuperSonics are going to have a
chance against the NBA's elite teams, Vin Baker is going to have to perform like a player with an $87 million contract.
|  | | Ruben Patterson scores two of his 15 points for Seattle. |
Baker did just that on Friday night as the Sonics won their fourth straight game by beating the defending NBA champion San Antonio Spurs 91-85.
Criticized for being soft and disappearing in big games, the
6-foot-11 Baker had 23 points and nine rebounds in Seattle's second
victory over the Spurs in less than two weeks.
"When you play hard and you work hard, good things can
happen," said Baker, who received his big contract from the Sonics
this summer. "It boosts your confidence when you beat the world
champions twice in 10 days."
Gary Payton led the Sonics with 25 points on 9-of-26 shooting,
while the Spurs' twin towers, Tim Duncan and David Robinson,
combined for 52 points and 23 rebounds. Duncan had 32 points and 16
rebounds, while Robinson scored 20 points.
"We're winning because we're playing the way we're supposed to
play, like a team," Payton said.
The Spurs lost for the second time in two nights. They were
beaten 107-103 on Thursday night in Sacramento.
San Antonio saw its road record slip below .500 (10-11).
The Sonics never trailed after grabbing an 18-2 lead in the
first 5:20, but the Spurs got to within one point at 60-59 in the
third quarter.
"They bombarded us in the first quarter and it took so much to
claw back that we didn't have anything left," Duncan said.
Robinson added, "If we play the whole ballgame, we win.
Instead, we play 30 good minutes and think that's enough to beat a
good team."
The Sonics finished the game without their best big man, Baker,
who fouled out with 2:34 to go with his team ahead 87-81.
Ruben Patterson had 15 points and Brent Barry 12 for Seattle.
Horace Grant of the Sonics had nine rebounds.
Robinson cut Seattle's lead to 83-79 with a 17-footer, but Baker
answered with two free throws after being fouled by Samaki Walker.
After the Spurs' Antonio Daniels threw the ball out of bounds, Barry scored on a fastbreak dunk after a steal by Terry Porter.
Avery Johnson made another critical San Antonio turnover when he dribbled the ball out of bounds with 2:34 left and the Sonics ahead
87-81.
The Spurs committed 19 turnovers, four by Duncan against
Seattle's swarming inside defense. In 45 minutes, Payton did not
have a turnover.
Duncan scored 14 points in the third quarter when the Spurs
crept to 60-59 with 6:04 gone in the period. The Sonics came back
to take a 73-63 lead on a free throw by Baker before San Antonio
got the last six points of the quarter, four on a pair of baskets
by Duncan.
The Sonics led 49-42 at halftime after going ahead by 21 in the
opening quarter when they scored 18 unanswered points after
Robinson opened the game with a 15-footer. In that 18-0 run, Barry
and Payton each hit 3-pointers.
Jaren Jackson of San Antonio sank a 3-pointer, but Payton hit consecutive 3-pointers to give Seattle a 24-5 advantage with 7:06
gone in the game.
But the Spurs came back in the second period and cut Seattle's
lead to five at 41-36 on two free throws by Duncan with 3:12 left
in the first half.
Game notes
The Sonics won for the sixth time in seven games. They
matched their longest victory string of the season at four games.
... Seattle won 99-96 on Jan. 5 in San Antonio. ... Last season,
the Spurs won two out of three from the Sonics. ... The starters
for both teams didn't get much help from their benches. Seattle's
reserves outscored San Antonio's bench 14-13. ... The Spurs
outrebounded Seattle 45-38. ... Last season when the Spurs lost in
Seattle, they fell to 6-7 before going 31-6 during the remainder of
the regular season. The Spurs were 15-2 in the playoffs last
season.
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ALSO SEE
NBA Scoreboard
San Antonio Clubhouse
Seattle Clubhouse
RECAPS
Philadelphia 102
Orlando 100
Toronto 115
Milwaukee 110
New York 0
Charlotte 0
Detroit 105
Washington 98
Indiana 111
LA Lakers 102
Atlanta 89
Chicago 83
Miami 92
Denver 87
Seattle 91
San Antonio 85
Cleveland 82
Vancouver 80
Portland 105
Phoenix 83
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