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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME FLOW
SEATTLE (AP) -- The pride is back in the Seattle SuperSonics'
game.
|  | | Back in the starting lineup due to Jelani McCoy's injured knee, Vin Baker scored 14 points for the Sonics. |
"We're making people understand, it's going to be hard to come in here and beat Seattle in Seattle," Gary Payton said after
scoring 34 points in a 107-87 victory over the sputtering
Washington Wizards on Friday night.
The Sonics won their fifth in a row and improved to 9-3 since
Nate McMillan took over as the interim head coach for the fired
Paul Westphal on Nov. 27.
"I'm just doing my job, just trying to get wins for this team," Payton said after helping Seattle improve its record to 9-4 at Key Arena this season.
The Sonics play the Pacific Division-leading Kings in Sacramento
on Saturday night. They beat the Kings 89-85 at KeyArena on Wednesday night.
"They're on their home court, so they're going to be motivated and they're going to want revenge," said Payton, who had 19 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists against the Kings earlier this week.
It was another tough night for the Wizards, who have won just
five games this season. They lost for the 12th time in 13 games and
also lost their starting center, Jahidi White, with a mild left
knee sprain in the third quarter.
"It was a big loss for us," first-year Wizards coach Leonard Hamilton said. "He's a big fella. When he got hurt, we were right in there. But we have to deal with the situation the way it is."
Juwan Howard led Washington with 21 points.
Payton had 12 of his points in the fourth quarter when the
Sonics pulled away. He made a 15-footer and then added a fastbreak
12-footer to put Seattle in front 89-72 with 8:53 left.
"Tonight we took care of the home court," McMillan said. "I think we need to just continue to make sure we work and execute. We need to understand where we're at and what we're trying to do."
Already playing without Richard Hamilton, the Wizards lost the 6-foot-9, 290-pound White with 7:16 left in the third quarter when Rod Strickland fell into him after making a layup. White was helped
off the court with his team trailing 73-62.
White had seven points and six rebounds before he departed. He
is expected to miss Washington's game Saturday night.
"When it gets bad, it really gets bad," said White, noting the
Wizards also are playing without shooting guard Mitch Richmond.
"But you still have to play with your head up."
Richmond has been on the injured list since Dec. 4 with a
partial tear of the medial collateral ligament in his left knee.
"I was worried at first tonight," White said. "But when I got
to the dressing room, the pain started to wear off."
Rashard Lewis scored 21 points and Ruben Patterson came off the bench to get 14 points and 10 rebounds for Seattle. Tyrone Nesby had 15 points for the Wizards.
Washington didn't get a basket for the remainder of the third
quarter after White was injured and the Sonics led 82-67 at the end
of three periods.
The Sonics were ahead 60-53 at halftime as Lewis sank two
3-pointers in the second quarter and one in the first period.
Lewis' third 3-pointer of the first half gave Seattle a 56-44 lead
with 2:10 remaining.
Olumide Oyedeji, a 6-10 rookie from Nigeria, made his NBA debut for the Sonics in the fourth quarter and scored a basket. He was Seattle's second-round draft pick in June.
"In the NBA, it's not a boy's game, it's a man's game,"
Oyedeji said. "I've got to come and play like a man. When I play
against Patrick (Ewing) and Vin (Baker) in practice, it gives me
confidence."
Game notes
Baker made his first start for the Sonics since McMillan
took over from Westphal. Baker was moved into the starting lineup
because Jelani McCoy suffered a sprained left knee against
Sacramento on Wednesday night. ... Hamilton strained his left
Achilles against Vancouver on Wednesday night. Hamilton is
averaging 14.3 points this season. ... The Sonics beat the Wizards
for the 20th time in the last 21 games at home since Jan. 2, 1980.
Washington's one victory in Seattle came March 24, 1999.
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ALSO SEE
NBA Scoreboard
Washington Clubhouse
Seattle Clubhouse
RECAPS
Utah 109
Indiana 101
New York 91
Philadelphia 71
Atlanta 78
Toronto 72
Miami 103
Cleveland 95
LA Lakers 108
Dallas 103
Charlotte 83
Minnesota 74
San Antonio 105
Golden State 87
Denver 116
Portland 96
Seattle 107
Washington 87
Sacramento 95
Vancouver 93
FROM
ATHLETESDIRECT
Juwan Howard Official Site
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