SEATTLE, March 27 (Ticker) -- In the second half, Brent Barry supplied the offense and Gary Payton the defense.

Barry scored 13 of his 17 points after halftime and Payton cooled off Jason Williams as the Seattle SuperSonics remained perfect at home against the Memphis Grizzlies with a 96-82 victory.

Barry was not aggressive in the first half, which ended in a 47-47 tie. He took just three shots while Williams made 9-of-12 -- including four 3-pointers -- and scored 24 points.

"In the first half, we didn't run many things to get Jason involved to play defense," Barry said. "We didn't move the ball around quite as much. So everybody wasn't getting a piece of the pie in the first half."

NBA TV highlights from Grizzlies-Sonics: 56k | 300k Shane Battier and the Grizzlies hung tough for a half, but their weary legs could not respond. Jeff Reinking NBAE/Getty Images

"In the first half I felt good," Williams said. "I wasn't really creating on my own, it was just coming in the flow. I think when I square up and keep my elbow in, I can shoot (well). I wasn't really out there looking for my shot; they were just coming."

Early in the third quarter, Barry got untracked with eight points in a 15-6 run that gave Seattle the lead for good.

Payton had the other seven as the SuperSonics built a 64-55 lead with 4 1/2 minutes remaining.

"It was a situation where we just wanted to get on top of them and just kind of hold them down," Barry said. "The only way they were going to get back in the game was if they were able to make outside shots. I think Jason didn't play as aggressive in the second half and that helped us because he was absolutely phenomenal in the first half."

Barry's aggression on offense may have had something to do with Williams slowing down in the second half. The SuperSonics also defended the high pick-and-roll much better as the big man jumped out and forced Williams to pass.

As a result, Williams took just five shots in the seocnd half, making one. He finished with 26 points and four assists.

"When a guy's having a big offensive night, if defensively you're not making him work, he can just concentrate on going down and making the next shot," Barry said. "So what you have to do is involve that kind of player into a pick-and-roll and make sure you're banging him around and maybe he'll wear down."

"I think they were getting more aggressive on the pick-and-rolls," Williams said. "The big guys were staying with me. I have to get rid of it when they double-team. It hurts my team if they keep dribbling it and taking shots over the big guys."

The Grizzlies pulled within two points early in the fourth quarter and still trailed just 77-71 after a hook by rookie Pau Gasol with 5:10 remaining. Barry answered with a long jumper.

Gasol converted a three-point play, but Payton and Desmond Mason made jumpers before Barry sealed it with a 3-pointer for an 88-76 lead with 2:05 left.

"I thought Brent Barry looked to be more aggressive, which we needed him to do in the second half," Sonics coach Nate McMillan said.

"Barry is very versatile. He can play inside or outside," Gasol said. "They play the right way."

The Sonics won for the sixth time in seven games despite a pair of key players being bothered by injuries. Payton overcame a sore back that nearly sidelined him to collect 32 points and nine assists. Rashard Lewis scored 12 points before leaving with a twisted ankle.

"We didn't know what was going to happen with Gary until the very beginning of the game," Mason said. "Everybody knows Gary; he's a warrior. He's gonna play hard every night. He's been playing sore and hurt all season."

"I thought it was a knee but it's an ankle," McMillan said of Lewis' injury. "I don't know exactly how serious. I thought I heard one of the doctors say it should be OK."

Mason scored 14 points for the Sonics, who improved to 12-0 all-time at home against the Grizzlies. Seattle shot 48 percent (38-of-79) from the field and held a 49-36 rebounding advantage.

Lorenzen Wright had 13 points and 10 boards for the Grizzlies, who have lost seven of their last eight games. They shot 41.5 percent (34-of-82) and made just 8-of-17 free throws.

"We had wide-open shots; we just didn't make them," Grizzlies coach Sidney Lowe said. "There's not much you can do about that."