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Rashard Lewis

(7:00 p.m., , FSN, KTTH 770 AM)

'90s Night

"He had a good day, a really good day," Sonics Coach Bob Hill said after practice. "We went an hour and 45 minutes. Most of it was controlled scrimmage, the last 10 was live scrimmage. He did really well."

"It felt better than it did in Indiana. My conditioning's fine; I'm just trying to get my timing and the rhythm back." Sam Forencich/NBAE/Getty

Lewis felt some rust when he practiced for the first time Tuesday in Indiana. Today's practice, he thought, was an improvement.

"It felt better than it did in Indiana," Lewis said. "My conditioning's fine; I'm just trying to get my timing and the rhythm back. I was able to make a couple more shots than I did when we were in Indiana."

There is still some pain and soreness in Lewis' right hand, and the possibility of being hit in the hand remains a concern. For the time being, Lewis will wear a protective glove on his right hand. Though he has used the glove since he was cleared to use his right hand to dribble and shoot, Lewis is not entirely used to having it on.

"It's still getting in the way a little bit, but that's why I kept working out with it and trying to get used to it," he said. "I am a little more comfortable with it, but I still would rather play without it."

While he's been sidelined, Lewis has been able to work out daily and keep his conditioning up. However, working after practice or before games is not an exact substitute for the pace of an NBA game.

"I think I'm more anxious than anything," said Lewis. "I think the only thing that (concerns me) is being overanxious and going out there and not having game speed, because it's different for me than practicing or working out on your own. It's a whole different ballgame when you step out on the court and play against a different team. I'm just hoping that I'll be able to adjust to it pretty quick."

Lewis suggested he would defer at first to Ray Allen, who has averaged 28.3 points per game in Lewis' absence. Ultimately, however, Lewis' presence should relieve much of the pressure on Allen. That will be particularly useful down the stretch of close games. Before Andre Brown came through with two big scores in the final minute of Wednesday's win in Indiana, the Sonics had gotten little production from other players in these situations when defenses focused on Allen.

"It's so fun to see Rashard out there," said Hill. "Rashard's a great player. We really missed him. We were able to go small some today in practice with him at four and then you can do more with him. It's great to have him back. I'm sure all of us - coaches, players, trainers - are glad he's going to play."

Since injuring the tendon sheath on the back of his right hand on Dec. 20 against Dallas, Lewis has missed the Sonics last 22 games. The team has gone 8-14 in that span, including 1-9 on the road, seeing hopes of contending for a playoff berth fade.

"It was a hard 22-game stretch," said Hill. "It was hard. Being without Ray Allen for nine games (before Lewis' injury), that was 31 games we played without those two guys. It was hard, but the players continued to play hard. That win the other night in Indiana was significant, because it was without him and it was on the road."

It has been more than two months since the Sonics last had their two leading scorers on the floor together. That last happened Dec. 2, when the Sonics lost at the buzzer in Utah.

Earl Watson practiced with tape on both of his wrists. Watson suffered a hard fall during Wednesday's win in Indiana, but finished the game anyway and made several big plays down the stretch.

"Earl might have had the best practice I've ever seen him have today, so I would say based on that, his wrists feel fine," said Hill. "I'm sure they're sore, but he looked really good today."

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Tomorrow will mark 52 days since Rashard Lewis last took the court for the Sonics. Here's a comparison of the world as of Dec. 20, when Lewis injured the tendon sheath on his right hand against Dallas, and the present time.

RASHARD'S ABSENCE

Dec. 20 Feb. 10 Promotion '70s Night '90s Night Andre Brown's Status in Sioux Falls, D-League in Sonics rotation UW Men's Basketball 9-1, #17 after win over LSU 15-8, unranked Nick Collison 7.7 ppg, 6.4 rpg, 42.6% fgs 10.0 ppg, 7.7 rpg, 49.8% fgs Peyton Manning SB rings 0 1