After starting slowly, Sonics All-Stars Ray Allen - playing with a sprained right ankle - and Rashard Lewis ended up having solid Game 2s, combining for 47 points. While the attention in this series and the buildup before hand has focused on these two players, the bigger issue for the Sonics offense thus far has been the ability to get a fourth player going. Only three players (Allen, Lewis and backup Antonio Daniels) have scored in double-figures for the Sonics in this series. Turnovers will also be a focus for the Sonics after they committed 17 in Game 2, leading to numerous San Antonio fast breaks.

At the defensive end of the floor, it's been a case of pick your poison for the Sonics. In Game 1, Tony Parker whirred and blurred his way to 29 points. In Game 2, while Parker had 22 points, he wasn't as brilliant. In stepped Manu Ginobili to pick up the slack, scoring a game-high 28 points on unconscious 9-for-11 shooting. The Spurs "Big Three" of Ginobili, Parker and Tim Duncan is averaging 68.0 points per game in this series and Duncan has yet to have a huge game. Expect the Sonics to play a little more lax defensively and force the Spurs to beat them from the perimeter.

G U A R D S
	The Sonics can take heart in the fact that, as this year, Parker dominated the first two games of last year's Western Conference Semifinals series against the Los Angeles Lakers. Parker had 50 points combined in Games 1 and 2 (he's got 51 this season), but then the Lakers backed off and dared him to shoot the 3. In the final four games, all Spurs losses, Parker also combined for 50 points. However, it took him 71 shots and 31.0% shooting to get them. Can that be a model for the Sonics? The Sonics are looking to Luke Ridnour to be the catalyst for better ball movement as a team after Ridnour had only one assist in Game 2. That wasn't his fault, but he can get the Sonics off to a better start.
	Quietly, Brent Barry has done a very nice job in this series for the Spurs. After the big three, Barry is tied for the Spurs fourth-leading scorer at 10 points per game and has shot 7-for-12 from the field and hit some big momentum threes. Barry has defended well enough to not be a liability, allowing San Antonio to keep him on the floor for his shooting. Allen didn't appear to be bothered by his ankle on Tuesday, but a day of rest should have him closer to full strength this evening. A big game from Allen could get the Sonics going.
F O R W A R D S
	It was a rough Game 2 for Bruce Bowen, who picked up five fouls in 17 minutes of action. It's tough to say whether the calls had anything to do with Allen's pre-series commentary on Bowen's rough play, but clearly the Spurs defensive specialist was called more tightly than he usually is. Lewis had 22 points, but the Sonics would still like to see him establish his presence a little earlier to avoid the slow starts they've endured in the first quarters of Games 1 and 2.
	Ho-hum, 25 points and nine rebounds for Duncan, the closest thing to automatic in the NBA. Duncan did his damage in a different manner than Game 1. While he didn't get to the free-throw line, attempting only three foul shots (and missing two of those, a somewhat ominous note for Spurs fans), Duncan shot 12-for-20 from the field, doing his damage inside and out. The Sonics have yet to find a successful defensive matchup for Duncan in this series. Reggie Evans moved onto him in place of Jerome James for much of Game 2 so that James could concentrate on controlling the paint. Evans still managed a game-high 12 rebounds.
C E N T E R
	San Antonio center Nazr Mohammed has yet to emerge as much of an offensive presence in this series (three of his seven points Tuesday were scored on a meaningless cast at the buzzer), but he certainly made his presence felt on the glass in Game 2 with 10 rebounds, four offensive, in 24 minutes of action. James also played 24 minutes in Game 2, outscoring Mohammed with eight points and pulling down seven rebounds. James had three blocks but can still do more to lock down the paint against San Antonio penetration.
B E N C H
	Ginobili's (right) presence off the bench turned Game 2 in San Antonio's favor when he entered midway through the first quarter. Aggressive and confident, Ginobili was either getting to the rim or hitting from the perimeter as he scored 28 points in just 31 minutes of action. Robert Horry (six points in Game 2) has been fairly quiet in this series, while Glenn Robinson cooled down after a strong Game 1 and scored only four points. Daniels (left) gave the Sonics 16 points on 6-for-11 shooting, six assists and three steals in a fine performance that went relatively unnoticed. Nick Collison had nine points and five rebounds in 17 minutes of action, but struggled defensively against Duncan in the post, limiting his court time. Ronald "Flip" Murray was the beneficiary of extra action as the Sonics went small in Vladimir Radmanovic's absence. Murray is shooting only 4-for-18 from the field in this series.

TEAM LEADERS LEWIS PARKER Lewis 20.5 PPG Parker 25.5 Evans 9.5 RPG Duncan 9.0 Daniels 4.5 APG Parker 5.0 Daniels/Evans 1.5 SPG Parker 2.0 James 1.5 BPG Duncan 3.5 Lewis 40.5 MPG Parker 37.0

The Sonics have not lost three straight playoff games since 1998.

INJURIES

Sonics - Forward Vladimir Radmanovic (sprained right ankle) is out.

San Antonio - None.

For more analysis before tonight's game, listen to David Locke on the Sonics Pregame Show starting at 6:50 on KJR 950 AM and 7:00 on Sonics Radio Network stations.