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Friday, Dec. 8 10:30pm ET
Payton passes 14,000-point milestone

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LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Even for Shaquille O'Neal, it was an atrocious night at the free throw line -- the worst in NBA history.

Gary Payton
Gary Payton scored 25 points Friday night to help the Sonics beat the Lakers and to surpass 14,000 career points.

O'Neal went a record 0-for-11 from the line Friday, and Seattle's Gary Payton scored 25 points to reach 14,000 in his career and lead the SuperSonics to a 103-95 win over Los Angeles.

O'Neal had 26 points and 16 rebounds, but his free throw futility cost the Lakers and also broke the record set by another dominant center who had trouble making foul shots -- Wilt Chamberlain.

Chamberlain went 0-for-10 for Philadelphia against Detroit on Nov. 4, 1960, the previous mark for most attempts without making one.

O'Neal, a career 53 percent shooter from the line, has made only 38 percent this season, although he says he has been concentrating on improving what is the only really weak link in his game.

"I was probably trying too hard," he said. "I just have to concentrate a little bit more. I always make them in practice, so I just have to make them in a game," he said.

Lakers coach Phil Jackson said: "Obviously his free throw shooting really hurt us. Shaq slipped back into a position where he was shooting well for a couple of games and now fell back again.

"It's unfortunate for him; I know that's a big blow to him."

It was the Sonics' second victory over the defending NBA champions in eight days, including a 121-88 rout at Seattle that was Los Angeles' worst loss since 1995.

Vin Baker added 15 points and Patrick Ewing had 10 points and 16 rebounds as the Sonics handed the Lakers only their second loss in 12 home games this season.

"We can play basketball just like they can play basketball," Payton said. "We had close games with them last year, but we just couldn't finish.

"This year, we're playing a lot better against them and I think we're executing a little bit more."

Kobe Bryant, coming off a 51-point performance in a 125-122 overtime loss at Golden State two nights earlier, was held to 19 points on 8-of-25 shooting.

The Sonics, who held a narrow lead most of the way, were up 82-76 heading into the fourth quarter. Los Angeles closed to 92-90 with 4:02 remaining, but Seattle spurted away again.

Seattle's Emanual Davis, who sprained his left ankle in a 112-99 loss to Detroit on Wednesday, was a late scratch after he tested the ankle during warmups and decided it was too sore.

Ruben Patterson replaced him in the starting lineup and scored 11 points.

Mike Penberthy hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer ending the first half as the Lakers, who trailed 51-39 with five minutes left in the half, pulled even at 57.

But they never led in the second half.

Isaiah Rider, who showed up late and was kept on the bench by Los Angeles coach Phil Jackson in a 125-122 overtime loss at Golden State on Wednesday, sparked the Lakers' 18-6 run to close out the first half. He finished with 16 points, eight in the second quarter.

Game notes
Payton has 14,009 points and needs 26 more to pass Fred Brown and become Seattle's all-time leading scorer. ... The Lakers' Jackson said before the game that he had suggested to Bryant that maybe he could help Rider figure out where to get shots in the triangle offense, and Jackson related with a smile: "Kobe told me he hasn't even completely figured it out, so he said, `Let him figure it out for himself.' I think that's so Kobe can continue to get his 30 shots a game." ... Los Angeles' loss at Seattle was its worst since a 46-point defeat by Portland in 1995.
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Indiana 104
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New Jersey 86
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Dallas 105
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Toronto 108
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Seattle 103
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