 The Phoenix Suns lock up "The Glove," Gary Payton Otto Greule/NBAE/Getty Images from Suns-Sonics: 56k | 300k |
"We came over from the weak side to help and I thought I got a clean block," Lewis said. "I mean, I thought I got a clean block and obviously, they called the foul. I did not think that he would knock down both of the free throws, but he hit both of his free throws."
"I just shoot and make," Tsakalidis said. "We were in the game because we played better defense in the second half."
Seattle inbounded to Gary Payton, but the point guard's 19-footer from the left wing bounced off the rim. Desmond Mason caught the rebound, but his attempt hit the glass as time expired.
"Well, again, we put ourselves in a situation to win the game and just don't come up with the plays," Seattle coach Nate McMillan said. "Defensively, the rotation was a little late and coming close -- we've done that several times this season. So we have to find a way to come up with the plays when the opportunity is there and you'll win these games."
Hardaway had 26 points and five rebounds and Shawn Marion added 25 and eight for Phoenix, which shot 45 percent (37-for-83) and defeated Seattle for the 11th time in the last 14 meetings.
"We had a couple of big stops when we needed to have them and Penny had a couple of big offensive plays for us," Phoenix coach Scott Skiles said. "This was a win that we had to have and we are happy to have it. It wasn't always pretty out there at times, but we had to have this win."
Payton collected 27 points and nine assists and Lewis added 18 points and 10 boards for the Sonics, who were returning from a 2-3 road trip.
Mason had 12 points and Brent Barry scored 11 for Seattle, which shot just 25 percent (5-for-20) from behind the arc. The Sonics placed forward Vin Baker on the injured list before the game with a left knee contusion and were outscored in the paint, 42-34.
Phoenix forward Tom Gugliotta left with 6:51 to go in the third after collided Mason. Gugliotta may have a concussion and could miss Wednesday's game with Orlando.
The Suns were just 1-of-8 from 3-point range when Hardaway made one from the left wing to cut the deficit to 89-88 with 73 seconds left in the fourth. Rodney Rogers got the rebound of a miss by Mason and Hardaway nailed a 19-footer to give the Suns a 90-89 lead with 30.8 seconds to play.
After a timeout, Lewis missed a 17-footer from the left wing, but Jerome James caught the rebound in the paint and threw it down to put Seattle ahead, 91-90, with 15.8 seconds to go.
Marion scored 15 points in the first half, helping the Suns take a 44-43 lead into the locker room.
Phoenix extended it to 74-70 after three quarters.
Seattle opened the fourth with a 6-1 surge and grabbed a 76-75 lead on a layup by Stephon Marbury with 9:37 to play.
The game featured 21 lead changes and neither team led by more than six points.