SONICS COACH NATE MCMILLAN:

On the game:
“This was a big win in an important game. Facing San Antonio, a good team, that’s tough to beat wherever you face them. You knew this would be an emotional game but we kept our emotions in check, and kept the game in check. We hung in there and we able to withstand their run.”

On defending Tim Duncan
“Our game plan was not to let Tim Duncan get anything. We wanted to make it tough on him to score. You just have to make a lot of reads and put some size on him. In the first we went with our small squad and he got too deep in the post. You can’t let him get there on you. You can’t let him get that deep in the paint.”

RAY ALLEN

On the game
“In the second quarter we really hit them hard and stopped them defensively so you their answer in the third has to be expected. Sure enough they came out strong at the half. Pop must have laid into them because they hit us hard right back. We lost our composure a little but were able to get it back toward the end of the third. Then down the stretch we hit some key free-throws and were able to close it out.”

On the Sonics
“Right now on this team guys are just playing stubborn. Guys like Antonio Daniels come out and are not surprised to score 15 points, he expects to score 15. It’s that stubbornness that makes us good.”

ANTONIO DANIELS

On the Spurs' third quarter run
“You knew the Spurs were going to make a run in the third after the half. It took them a long time to get back on the court at the half so you know Pop laid into them a little. They are a championship caliber team. There is no quit in them. You knew their run was coming so when that’s the case you just have to hope to sustain and then hopefully answer with a run of your own.”

On his late three point shot
“I felt that the three pointer at the end of the game was a big shot, it sealed the game. I mean you never know what’s going to happen. We could have come down missed a few free throws and let them right back in it. But it felt good to hit that shot. They fought hard to get back in it and a shot like that really stops their momentum and takes the emotion out of them.”

RASHARD LEWIS

On the game
“I think maybe we caught them a little by surprise. Were a little more prepared than perhaps they expected us to be. We came out and everybody was making shots, the whole team. Once we got up on them I felt good. I felt comfortable the whole time we had the lead. As long as we were up 4 or 5 points I felt like eventually we would be able to close it out.”

SAN ANTONIO COACH GREGG POPOVICH:

On the game
“Seattle played really well. We played poor defense in the first half and played well in the second half. We had a few turnovers here and there and didn’t knock down some shots. It was a great effort in the second half trying to dig ourselves out of a hole. We just had a poor first half.”

On starting Malik Rose in the second half
“It was more about physicality and more energy. In the first half, we didn’t get that from Rasho. I was pleased with the team in the second half. They did a great job digging down and getting back in it.”

On playing Houston tomorrow
“It will be a tough game. We’ve had a lot of back-to-backs. We’re in our second seven and ten. I’m worried we spent a lot (of energy) tonight. We need to be sharp tomorrow.”

GUARD MANU GINOBILI

On tonight’s game
“It was really bad out there tonight for us. We finished with 41 in the first half, which is all right for us, but to give up 60 in a half like we did is really bad. We let them penetrate and pitch too much. The first half was awful.”

On a strong second half push
“We started the first minute of the second half playing hard. They got a little luck down the stretch that helped them out. They hit a bank from the top, then we missed a layup, and despite all our work, their lead was back to six or eight points. Those points are hard to get back.”

On tomorrow’s game with Houston
“We have to forget what happened and play better tomorrow. We just have to get some rest and relax for tomorrow’s game.”

FORWARD MALIK ROSE

On the Spurs comeback in the second half
“We knew we were going to come back. They played hard throughout though. It is going to be a great, great series between these two teams this year.”

On the Sonics hot shooting
“They made their shots all game. They have been doing to everyone in the league all season long.”