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






Tuesday, Mar. 13 10:00pm ET
Payton's 31 power spoiler Sonics

RECAP | BOX SCORE | GAME FLOW

SEATTLE (AP) -- Brent Barry is at wit's end.

Gary Payton
Gary Payton was a game-time decision because of an injury, but his 31 points doomed Portland.

"I've had many sleepless nights about this team. We shouldn't be in this predicament. We shouldn't be a .500 team," Barry said after the Seattle SuperSonics beat the Portland Trail Blazers 99-90 on Tuesday night, two days after beating the Los Angeles Lakers in overtime 109-97.

All year, the Sonics have been giant killers against the NBA's elite, going 4-0 against the champion Lakers.

But they've let down against the also-rans.

"We've shown we can beat good teams. But the thing is, we can't just get up for the good teams," Sonics coach Nate McMillan said. "We have to find a way to motivate ourselves."

The Sonics (33-33) had lost four in a row before the game against the Lakers.

"I've been on teams where it happens sometimes, but not as much as it happens with us," Patrick Ewing said of the Sonics' letdowns. "I really have no explanation."

Gary Payton led the Sonics with 31 points, though he was a game-time decision because of an injury to his right leg.

"He couldn't really walk this morning," McMillan said.

Payton wore a flexible, ankle-to-knee brace during the game.

"If he's breathing, he's going to play," said Seattle's Vin Baker, who had only six points and three rebounds in 32 minutes, but blocked four shots, including three in the fourth quarter.

Portland's Rasheed Wallace was held to just two points on 1-for-6 shooting in the second half after shooting 7-for-10 for 17 points in the first. He took and made just one shot in 11 fourth-quarter minutes and finished with 19.

Rashard Lewis had 16 points for Seattle, and Ruben Patterson added 14. Barry had eight assists, three steals and five rebounds in his first game back from a groin injury.

The Sonics pulled away for good midway through the fourth quarter, as Lewis hit consecutive 3-pointers and Patterson ignited the crowd by soaring to block a short jumper by 7-foot-3 Arvydas Sabonis, sending the bigger man sprawling.

Payton followed with a 3-pointer and Patterson hit a driving left-handed shot to put the Sonics up 86-70 with 5:50 left. Portland never got closer than seven after that, despite 10 points by Shawn Kemp in the last 2:12.

Sabonis, hampered by a sore right foot, had six points and just two rebounds in 17 minutes.

The Trail Blazers (42-22) have lost six of their last 10 and are now two games behind Pacific Division-leading Sacramento.

"It has really been decision making," Portland coach Mike Dunleavy said of his team's struggles. "We threw passes to spots on the floor where we thought guys were going to be, and they weren't there. We just need a little more patience and need to make better passes."

"We've just got to get a win so everyone can get their confidence back and play a little looser out there," said Rod Strickland, who was signed by Portland as a free agent on March 5.

The Sonics led by 15 points with just over 3 minutes left in the first half. But Portland went on a 13-3 run, cutting the lead to 53-48 by halftime, as Wallace scored six points on two layups and a 16-foot jumper. Stoudamire also hit consecutive 3-pointers.

Game notes
Ewing's six rebounds put him in 20th place on the career list with 11,258. His fifth rebound, with just over 2 minutes left in the third quarter, moved him ahead of Dolph Schayes. ... McMillan doesn't put much stock in reports that Michael Jordan may return as a player next season. But he understands why Jordan might want to come back. "At times you just want to get out there and show some of the guys how the game is played. You understand the game, and you feel like you can still have success playing." ... Ten Portland players have led the team in scoring in games this season, nine players in rebounds and nine in assists. ... The Trail Blazers entered the game shooting an NBA-best 46.9 percent from the field.

Send this story to a friend
ALSO SEE
NBA Scoreboard

Portland Clubhouse

Seattle Clubhouse


RECAPS
Milwaukee 101
Toronto 97

Atlanta 109
Vancouver 99

New York 98
Cleveland 79

Sacramento 114
Orlando 108

Dallas 122
New Jersey 98

Houston 127
Indiana 118

Seattle 99
Portland 90

LA Lakers 112
Boston 107


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.