Gary Payton scored 21 points and Vin Baker added 19 as the SuperSonics led from start to finish in a 97-83 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks, who were without Glenn Robinson.
In Friday's game against the Los Angeles Lakers, Seattle did not have to face Shaquille O'Neal for most of the game. O'Neal was ejected with 2:12 left in the first quarter, but the Sonics lost, 107-92.
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from Bucks-Sonics: 56k | 300k  Rashard Lewis goes up strong against the Bucks in Seattle. Jeff Reinking/NBAE/Getty Images |
"Robinson is a big part of their team," Seattle coach Nate McMillan said. "He is their go-to-guy in the clutch when they need a basket. He causes a matchup problem at the small forward. He can shoot over most guys, so they're missing a major part of what they do.
"I thought maybe in that Lakers game, we put pressure on ourselves because Shaq was ejected, that we had to win the game in the first quarter, as opposed to playing 48 minutes. I didn't want this team to try and win the game in the first quarter."
Robinson was replaced by Darvin Ham, who had four points and five rebounds. But he also had problems guarding Desmond Mason, who added 16 points on 8-of-9 shooting.
The Sonics took advantage of the shorthanded Bucks from the outset as they shot 62 percent (23-of-37) in the first half to open a 57-40 lead at halftime. Seattle finished at 49 percent (37-of-75).
Despite shooting 62 percent (8-of-13) in the second quarter, the Bucks could not maintain any type of offensive momentum. They were 8-of-27 in the first period and finished at 44 percent (32-of-73).
"Early in the game we got good shots," Milwaukee coach George Karl said. "We just lost our confidence. When you lose three in a row and come out and miss shots, that's part of it."
Payton, who shot just 12-of-28 in Seattle's last two games, was 8-of-14 with 18 points at halftime.
"He hadn't played well the last two games," McMillan said. "He normally reponds with much more aggressiveness. I thought tonight he played in a flow. We got the ball moving from side to side and was able to find him in different places as opposed to him handling the ball and all five of their guys zeroing in on him.
"With the ball movement, the defense can't zero in on him. We're moving him from side to side, and it's just opening up opportunities for him and a lot of other people."
The Bucks cut the deficit to 41-34 with 4:26 left in the half on Ervin Johnson's short jump shot.
But Mason hit a 20-footer and Brent Barry hit a 3-pointer that sparked a 16-6 burst to close out the half. Barry also hit a 3-pointer at the end of the half.
In the third, Seattle continued its surge. The Sonics opened the quarter with a 9-2 run that made it 66-42 with 9:38 left. Payton's 3-pointer gave them a 24-point advantage, their largest of the game.
Seattle, which had lost by a total of 29 points in its losses to the Lakers and the Utah Jazz, forced 21 turnovers and scored 23 points off them.
"It thought it was a better effort," McMillan said. "I thought tonight we had the intensity and concentration tonight. I thought we showed patience in our offense and executed our offense and we played solid defense."
Ray Allen scored 26 points and Tim Thomas added a season-high 25 for Milwaukee, which went 0-4 on its West Coast trip.
Milwaukee, which entered the road trip with the best record in the Eastern Conference, lost all four games by a combined 59 points.
"It's not about X's and O's," Thomas said. "We just aren't coming with a lot of energy. You have to tip your hat to them. They executed very well. They had everything going. They were rebounding and they were running, so it was a difficult game for us. Right now for us, it is about trying to get back on the right track."
The Bucks have dropped four in a row for the first time since November 18-25, 2000.