ATLANTA, Feb. 27 (Ticker) -- The Seattle SuperSonics' road show is playing to rave reviews.

The SuperSonics won their eighth straight road game, rallying for a 98-81 victory over the Atlanta Hawks as Rashard Lewis scored 19 points to lead a balanced attack.

The SuperSonics improved to 3-0 on their five-game road trip. They have not lost away from home since January 23 at Charlotte.

"On the road, we are more focused than at home," Lewis said. "We have more energy to win road games. We need to concentrate harder, especially at home."

The road streak is two shy of the 1995 club record and Seattle's longest since it also won eight in a row on the road from December 9, 1997-January 9, 1998. That run ended in New York, which is where Seattle plays Friday.

NBA TV highlights from Sonics-Hawks: 56k | 300k Gary Payton wears the face of intensity, dishing out 12 assists Wednesday night. Scott Cunningham NBAE/Getty Images

In this one, the Sonics erased an 11-point first-quarter deficit with a huge second period and methodically pulled away in the second half for their fourth straight win overall. They swept the season series for the first time since the 1995-96 campaign.

"I think we are more focused on the road because we know we have to win to stay in contention for the playoffs," said Sonics guard Gary Payton, who had 14 points and 12 assists. "We're just playing well. We came in here and everybody played the way they were supposed to play. I thought we executed and played decent."

Rookie Predrag Drobnjak scored 16 points and sparked a second-period rally for the Sonics. Brent Barry had 12 points and five steals and Desmond Mason and Jerome James scored 10 points each.

Shareef Abdur-Rahim had 24 points and 16 rebounds for the Hawks, who were playing at home for the first time since completing a 3-3 road trip that included a loss at Seattle.

"They came out and beat us in all aspects of the game," Hawks guard Jason Terry said. "We can't get a win when you play like that. We have to play better than that if we're gonna do anything. We didn't make any improvement tonight."

Abdur-Rahim scored seven points and Terry six in the first quarter as Atlanta opened a 31-20 lead. Drobnjak scored six points in a 16-7 run that opened the second quarter and two free throws by Barry pulled Seattle within 38-36 with 5:56 to go.

A dunk by Lewis gave the Sonics the lead for good at 44-43 with 2:38 remaining. Seattle widened the lead to 49-45 at halftime.

"That dunk was the momentum shift," Lewis said.

"The first quarter went really well and then we let up on them," said Abdur-Rahim, who committed eight of Atlanta's 20 turnovers.

Lewis scored eight points in the third quarter as Seattle built its lead to 73-61 entering the final period. Atlanta got no closer in the last 12 minutes.

"In the second half, the defense picked up," Sonics coach Nate McMillan said. "We've become a second-half team. The big thing is to value every possession."

"Coach said at half, the first one to play defense will win the game," Lewis said. "We picked it up with defensive stops in the second half and we opened it up."

Seattle shot 51 percent (41-of-81) from the field and committed 14 turnovers.

Terry scored 18 points for the Hawks, who shot 42 percent (34-of-81).

"There was not a lot to be pleased with after the first quarter," Hawks coach Lon Kruger said. "Against a team like that, you have to sustain that early momentum."