Ray Allen scored 35 points and
hit a layup with 5.8 seconds to play, lifting the SuperSonics to a 111-109 win
over the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday night in Gary Payton's first game in
Seattle since being traded away last February after 12 1/2 seasons.
Los
Angeles Lakers' Gary Payton (20) drives past Seattle SuperSonics' Ronald
Murray during the second quarter Friday, Jan. 2, 2004, in Seattle.
[AP]
Kobe Bryant scored 18 of his 32 points in
the fourth period, but he missed a 3-pointer that would have won it at the
buzzer. Fans and Sonics players broke into pandemonium when Rashard Lewis
collected the rebound.
Payton scored 24 points with five assists and five rebounds, but it couldn't
prevent the Sonics from their third straight win over the Lakers.
Los Angeles didn't have Karl Malone, who hasn't played since Dec. 21 because
of a sprained knee ligament, and lost Shaquille O'Neal early in the second
quarter when a strained right calf flared up.
O'Neal, averaging 20.6 points and 11.8 rebounds, played only 14 minutes,
scoring six points with five rebounds.
Payton was shipped to Milwaukee in the blockbuster deal that brought Ray
Allen to Seattle.
"The Glove," who joined the Lakers as a free agent last summer, remains
Seattle's franchise leader in scoring, assists, steals, games played, minutes
and several other statistical categories.
Payton was the first player introduced and received a standing ovation of
just over a minute. Sonics chairman Howard Schultz, who feuded with Payton last
season, stood to applaud from his courtside seat.
Fans posted signs that read, "G.P.: Greatest Sonic of all time," "Welcome
Home Gary" and "We'll Always Love the Glove."
It was a thrilling finish. Seattle led 106-102 after two foul shots by Lewis
and a bank shot by Allen, but Bryant hit a 3-pointer and Payton made one of two
free throws to tie it with 1:11 to go.
Allen swished a 3-pointer from the left side with 36.4 to play, then had
Bryant smothered in the left corner at the other end.
But Bryant calmly hit a 3-pointer of his own, sending a groan through the
sold-out arena when his shot fell as he backed into the Sonics bench. That tied
it at 109 with 22.8 seconds remaining.
After a Seattle timeout, Allen brought the ball downcourt, worked 10 seconds
off the clock, swung around Bryant's defense and drove for a layup that went in
with 5.8 seconds on the clock.
Rashard Lewis scored 20 and Brent Barry had 12 points and 11 assists for
Seattle.
Slava Medvenenko added 14 points for Los Angeles.
With O'Neal gone in the second half, both teams went to smaller lineups and
it evolved into an exciting duel.
The Sonics broke away early in the fourth quarter, with Allen hitting a
3-pointer and a jumper to spark a 12-2 run that gave Seattle a 96-89 lead with
8:04 remaining after a 3-pointer by Richie Frahm and two free throws by Reggie
Evans.
Bryant led a rally, scoring six points and dishing an assist to Payton during
an 11-2 Lakers run that tied it at 100 with 4:13 remaining. The Sonics went
scoreless for a span of 2:58 during that burst.
