ESPN Network: ESPN.com | NFL.com | NBA.com | NHL.com | WNBA.com | ABCSports | EXPN | FANTASY | INSIDER

  Scores/Schedules
  Standings
  Statistics
  Transactions
  Injuries
  Players
  Message Board
  NBA StatSearch
  NBA en espaņol
Clubhouses






Thursday, Feb. 1 10:00pm ET
Sonics lose Payton to abdominal strain

RECAP | BOX SCORE | GAME FLOW

SEATTLE (AP) -- With Gary Payton and Ruben Patterson out, the Seattle SuperSonics almost fell to the struggling Chicago Bulls.

Patrick Ewing
Patrick Ewing muscles down one of his 10 rebounds for the Sonics. Ewing also had 14 points.

Rashard Lewis and Desmond Mason hit four free throws in the final 20 seconds to seal Seattle's 97-91 victory over Chicago and hand the Bulls their 13th consecutive loss on Thursday night.

Seattle was without Patterson, serving the first game of a three-game suspension, and Payton, who left the game in the second quarter after aggravating an abdominal strain that kept him on the bench almost all of the first quarter.

"You're talking about 30 points there and two of your best defenders," in Patterson and Payton," Sonics coach Nate McMillan said. "That's a lot that you have to overcome."

The Bulls (6-39) trailed by as many as 13 midway through the third quarter before pulling within two and hanging close the rest of the way. They were down 92-91 with just 47 seconds to go before Emanual Davis hit a free throw, Chicago's Ron Mercer missed a pullup 15-footer and two Brad Miller fouls sent Lewis and Mason to the line.

"We fought hard to get back, cut it down to one, and couldn't finish at the end," Mercer said. "It has been the same story for the last 10 or 12 ballgames. We just can't finish at the end."

The 13th straight loss tied a Chicago franchise worst set Oct.-Dec. 1976.

"We've had great opportunities every game," Bulls coach Tim Floyd said. "Needless to say, it's been frustrating. I admire our guys for continuing to fight and continuing to put themselves in a position to win."

Mercer scored 30 points, including 22 in the second half, for the Bulls. Elton Brand scored all 19 of his points in the second half, and Miller added 10 rebounds.

Vin Baker led Seattle with 22 points, including 10-for-10 from the free-throw line. Davis added 19 and Brent Barry packaged 17 points and 11 assists.

Patterson was serving the first of a three-game suspension after pleading guilty this week to a misdemeanor assault charge in Cleveland for breaking a man's jaw.

Mason arrived late after attending a memorial service for Oklahoma State basketball players and staff who died in a weekend plane crash. He did not see action until the fourth quarter, when he played five minutes and had two points and two steals.

Payton, who entered the game with averaging a team-best 23.2 points, was slowed in December and early January by a groin injury. His nine minutes was his lowest total this season.

Payton appeared to be walking normally after the game. He declined to be interviewed.

"He's very sore," McMillan said. "X-rays tonight showed negative, but I think he's going to do an MRI tomorrow to get a closer look."

"It's going to be tough," if Payton and Patterson both miss games, Davis said. "But teams are going to have to prepare differently for us also. If Gary's out, other guys are going to be taking those shots. You don't know where it's going to come from now."

Seattle went on a 10-0 run, including 3-pointers by Barry and Davis, to close the first half leading 52-39. Baker had 15 in the half.

Game notes
Seattle native Jamal Crawford was cheered by the Key Arena crowd when he entered in the first quarter, and when he scored his first points on a mid-range jumper in the second. Crawford played at Rainier Beach High School in Seattle. A crowd of at least 100 waited for him in the stands after the game. ... On Patterson's suspension, Sonics coach Nate McMillan said, "It's a surprise to me that he's suspended for so long, but I think the league is trying to send a message to these guys about their behavior." McMillan said Patterson had been questionable anyway for the Bulls game because of an ankle injury. ... Payton, 32, has missed only three regular-season games in his 834-game career: one in 1992 because of a chest contusion, and two because of suspensions in 1996 and in January. The Jan. 19 suspension was for a locker-room shouting match with McMillan.


ALSO SEE
NBA Scoreboard

Chicago Clubhouse

Seattle Clubhouse


NBA reacts to Patterson's conviction with three-game suspension

Sonics' Payton to miss Jazz game Saturday


RECAPS
Minnesota 90
Cleveland 81

Dallas 95
Miami 91

Philadelphia 87
New York 80

LA Clippers 101
Houston 84

Utah 87
Charlotte 76

Portland 100
Phoenix 92

Seattle 97
Chicago 91


ESPN.com:  HELP |  ADVERTISER INFO |  CONTACT US |  TOOLS |  SITE MAP
Copyright ©2000 ESPN Internet Group. Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and Safety Information are applicable to this site. Employment opportunities at ESPN.com.