 Gary Payton takes it strong to the basket against Richard Hamilton. Mitchell Layton/NBAE/Getty images |
"I couldn't get anything to go," Jordan said. "That's probably one of the worst shooting nights I've had in my career, actually, to start 0-for-14. I wouldn't say I had bad shots, I had great shots."
"Every time he shot the ball I wanted to make sure I got a hand in his face," said Mason, a 6-5 second-year guard known for his defense. "He knocked down some big shots with hands in his face, but some nights you're going to be on and some nights you're going to be off."
The points were a season low for Jordan in his third comeback. The 10-time scoring champion did contribute 12 rebounds and four assists but Washington shot a meager 37 percent (29-of-78).
"It was one of those situations where I caught myself laughing because as hard as I was trying, I just couldn't get it to fall -- even the easy shots like layups, and things of that nature," Jordan added.
Four others scored in double figures for Seattle, which took control with two extended runs during the third quarter and snapped on a three-game losing streak while finishing a 2-3 Eastern road trip.
"Gary Payton and all of our guys played a scrapping game," Sonics coach Nate McMillan said. "We were able to build a lead, kind of wear them down, and finish this game."
A dunk by Jerome James with 1:41 to play in the third period gave the SuperSonics a commanding 76-51 lead. Although the Wizards used a 22-4 run to fight within 80-73 midway through the final quarter, they could not get any closer.
"We knew Mike was Mike," said Payton. "We just had to come in here and play our game. Most of the young guys probably got up for it, but I've been playing against him for a long time and I knew what he could do. I just had to go out there and be aggressive, just like him."
It was the fourth straight loss for Washington, which was held to its second-lowest point total of the season.
The SuperSonics easily snapped their skid despite playing without forward Vin Baker, who is sidelined with a bruised left knee.
Leading 48-41 at the break, Seattle opened the second half with an 11-3 run. Rashard Lewis drilled a key 3-pointer during the spurt and the Sonics grabbed a 59-44 lead on Brent Barry's fast-break dunk with 7:51 left in the third period.
Toward the end of the period, Seattle scored 11 straight points for a 25-point advantage.
Barry finished with 20 points, Lewis and Mason contributed 14 apiece and Art Long collected 10 and 10 rebounds off the bench for the SuperSonics, who connected on 47 percent (38-of-81) of their shots. Seattle was 11-of-21 from behind the 3-point arc.
"We're a jump-shooting team and today we made them," Payton said. "It's a good thing we did because we've been struggling for three games. I'm glad we knocked down a couple."
The Wizards held a 44-40 advantage on the boards but committed 17 turnovers that led to 24 Seattle points.
Washington was led by reserve Richard Hamilton, who scored 23 points. Rookie Bobby Simmons contributed 13 and five rebounds in 21 minutes.
The Wizards wasted a seven-point first-quarter lead and trailed 48-41 at halftime.
Washington rookie Kwame Brown, the first high school player to go first overall in the NBA draft, received his first career start and had five points and six rebounds in 31 minutes.
"It's my first start so I'm just going to try to take it one day at a time," Brown said. "Work and work, and hopefully I make better reads on defense. Hopefully I'll be able to alleviate the mental errors and come out here and play hard."