Live From The Press Box - Sonics vs. L.A. Clippers
Want to enjoy the electricity of being Live at the Hardwood even if you're thousands of miles away? SUPERSONICS.COM's Live From the Press Box in-game blog is your best bet. All night and all season long, Kevin Pelton will be bringing you pregame Q&As and observations from the game. Make sure to keep coming back or refreshing so you get the latest content.
Sonics Get Win 25
Posted at 9:27 p.m.
After the Sonics allowed Elton Brand to get free for a dunk, they threw long to late substitution Nick Collison, who broke away from the pack. Collison was fouled by Elton Brand, but coolly sunk both free throws with poise befitting a veteran, not a rookie, to the delight of the big Kansas fans behind press row. Rick Brunson missed a three, and the Sonics ran out the clock on a 104-99 win, pushing their record to 25-8 this season. Tune in KJR 950 AM for the Sonics Postgame Show featuring David Locke, Dick Fain and Elise Woodward.
Warriors Friday
Posted at 9:25 p.m.
This game isn’t even close to over, but we still have to look ahead. After completing the home-and-home set with the Clippers tomorrow night in Los Angeles, the Sonics return to the friendly confines of KeyArena Friday to take on the Golden State Warriors.
Get your tickets now! It's a
Friends and Family Weekend Presented by Sprite, so bring the whole gang out to the game for great savings.
Ray’s World
Posted at 9:23 p.m.
Ray Allen sticks a dagger into the Clippers with a layup with 17.0 seconds left in the game. After an ill-timed Jerome James offensive foul, Rick Brunson’s jumper made it a three-point lead, but Allen’s score extends the Sonics advantage to two possessions with just 17.0 seconds to play. We’ll see what the Clippers have left.
Familiar Story
Posted at 9:20 p.m.
The Clippers have lost a lot of close games this season - they’ve played six overtime contests, winning just two - and this looks like it might follow a familiar script. Seven straight Sonics points, capped by a Rashard Lewis three from the left corner, have given the Sonics a six-point lead. But an Elton Brand drive with 1:06 to play draws not only two free throws, but also Danny Fortson’s sixth foul. He’s replaced by Jerome James.
Brand misses the first free throw and hits the second. Sonics by five.
Stepping Up
Posted at 9:17 p.m.
Journeyman Rick Brunson has taken advantage of injuries to become the Clippers starting point guard after both Marko Jaric and rookie Shaun Livingston went down. The one-time Temple star has made the most of the opportunity, handing out 14 assists last week in a win over Portland. SUPERSONICS.COM asked him about the attitude necessary to play his role.
Did you expect to be starting two months into the season?
Brunson: No. You never think guys will get hurt, but it’s part of the job, part of the sport.
Even though the Clippers have two young point guards, do you think you could find a home here with your play this season?
Brunson: No, I’ll never get a home. This is a job, whether it’s playing here, whether it’s playing in other cities. You enjoy it while you can. It doesn’t really matter where I play at. I’m not looking to find a home. It’s only a short career.
Does it help in your role to have that attitude?
Brunson: In life, not in my role. It’s not like if I take a 9-to-5 job, I’m going to expect to be there the rest of my life.
Both Teams Unhappy
Posted at 9:15 p.m.
Neither team liked the calls that went against them on the last two possessions. First, Danny Fortson made some contact with Elton Brand launching a 15-footer and was called for the foul. Then, Vladimir Radmanovic tried to dunk on Brand. Brand blocked it, but got the foul. Radmanovic hit both free throws, Brand just one of his, so the Sonics lead 95-94 with under three to play.
Little Play That Could Go a Long Ways
Posted at 9:10 p.m.
With the Clippers having come back to tie the game at 91-all, the Sonics needed a lift. They got it from Danny Fortson, who went sprawling on the ground to tip a loose ball ahead to Ray Allen, who drew the defense and dished to Vladimir Radmanovic for the slam-dunk finish. Timeout Mike Dunleavy. It’s 93-91 Sonics with 4:57 to play and some of the starters checking back into the game for the Sonics. Dunleavy inexplicably has Corey Maggette, who has 20 points, on the bench.
You Got Benched
Posted at 9:02 p.m.
You being the L.A. Clippers, that is; the Sonics have started the fourth quarter on a 10-2 run on the strength of their reserve unit, getting a three-point play from Danny Fortson and a Vladimir Radmanovic three to reclaim the lead. Still, this one has the look of a game going down to the wire.
To the Fourth
Posted at 8:55 p.m.
After a false start - the third quarter appeared to end, but in reality the Clippers got a shot-clock violation with 0.3 seconds left on the clock - we head to the final period with the Sonics needing a small comeback, trailing 76-74. This is the eighth time this season the Sonics trailing going to the fourth quarter; they’re 2-5 in those games (one of those wins is Memphis; I can’t remember the other one). The Sonics were up six late in the quarter, but they got just one more basket the rest of the period, which the Clippers finished on an 11-3 run.
Ray Allen Show
Posted at 8:43 p.m.
As he likes to remind us from time to time, this is Ray Allen’s World; we’re just living in it. Allen has 24 points tonight on 6-for-13 shooting (8-for-8 from the free-throw line, 4-for-8 from three). Combined, the rest of the Sonics starting five has 23 points. Allen has more than a third of the Sonics points.
That’s not to say nobody else is helping. Luke Ridnour has 10 assists for the second time in three games and Reggie Evans has nine rebounds.
Game Change
Posted at 8:38 p.m.
After the first quarter, it looked like we had a shootout on our hands, but the two teams have slowed their scoring pace considerably since then, combining for 43 points and just 17 so far during the third. That increases the importance of rebounding, and so far Elton Brand has dominated the game in that regard, recording six of his 10 boards on the offensive end. As a team, the Clippers are outrebounding the Sonics 33-27. Rashard Lewis has provided a nice lift in the second half, scoring all six of his points. The Sonics have just reclaimed the lead, 61-60.
Evans Feeling Better
Posted at 8:30 p.m.
It’s been a tough week for Sonics forward Reggie Evans, who has missed the team’s last three games because of Gastroenteritis, but he’s hoping to put it behind him now that he’s back on the court. Evans’ problems started in Miami, when he ate “some bad (chicken) wings.” After having to leave the Sonics game against the Heat, Evans was hospitalized after the Sonics reached Orlando, and was told to fly home for more tests and observation.
Evans felt well enough Saturday to practice and attend the Seahawks’ playoff game against the St. Louis Rams. After going out to dinner that evening, however, Evans felt stomach pain and nausea (apparently not, alas, caused by the Seahawks secondary) and returned to the hospital Sunday, where he underwent further tests as doctors hope to pinpoint his problem.
Evans felt well today, but he’s been monitoring his diet to be safe.
“I ate a lot of jello, I ate a lot of eggs, sausages, a little biscuits, some gravy,” he said before the game. “ I drank a lot of Gatorade, drank a lot of orange juice, drank a lot of fluid. I can’t really eat like I normally want to eat.”
Test results should be back later this week, at which point Evans and doctors should know more about his future course of treatment.
For Your Halftime Entertainment
Posted at 8:15 p.m.
Kids that participated in the Sonics Dance Team’s dance camp over the weekend are performing in several groups with members of the Dance Team itself. I see several future Sonics Dancers out there.
At the Half
Posted at 8:10 p.m.
Disappointing second quarter for the Sonics. After scoring 31 points in the first, they could muster just 20 in the second, and only a Ray Allen buzzer-beating layup gives them a halftime lead, 51-50. Still, the momentum feels much more solidly in the Sonics favor because of Allen’s score. The return of Rashard Lewis should spark the Sonics offensively.
Scoreboard Watching
Posted at 8:03 p.m.
The New Orleans Hornets win their second straight game, doubling their season total for wins in the process. What’s gotten into them? 17 points off the bench for Dan Dickau. … The Knicks played just seven players in the loss; they need a shake-up badly … Brevin Knight has 20 assists in the Bobcats two-point loss to Cleveland … Emeka Okafor is now working on a two-game streak without double-doubles … Milwaukee gets Keith Van Horn back but still loses by 23 to Atlanta - that team has been a real disappointment for me … Phoenix all over Miami in a battle of the best records in the two conferences; Amare Stoudemire with 32 points and Steve Nash has 13 assists with eight minutes left in the fourth quarter.
Sonics Defense
Posted at 7:55 p.m.
The Sonics have done a great job of cracking down defensively on the Clippers stars. While Corey Maggette is going to the free-throw line, his three-point play early in the game remains his only score, while Elton Brand has just two points. In case you’re curious, they combined for 39 points the first time these teams played.
Moore Vocal
Posted at 7:49 p.m.
Careful scrutiny of the Clippers bench has led me to determine that the most vocal Clippers player is center Mikki Moore, who is keeping up a running dialogue while on the bench and was loud on the court as well. “Who’s Jerome guarding?” Moore asked a referee on one play, hoping to draw a defensive three-second violation. While in the game, Moore shouted, “And one! And one! And one!” as his layup (while, yes, being fouled) hung on the rim before falling in.
With Lewis out, Flip Murray is getting some run here in the second quarter as the teams play even. Vladimir Radmanovic has shot well, scoring six points off the bench, but Ray Allen has predictably been The Man ™, scoring12 points. Sonics lead by five as we approach the midway point of the second stanza.
Gorgeous play by Nick Collison, who slips the pick, rolls to the basket, receives the pass from Ray Allen, flips up a layin that goes in while being fouled and hits the free throw to complete the three-point play.
Lewis Sidelined
Posted at 7:41 p.m.
More breaking news: Sonics forward Rashard Lewis will miss the remainder of the first half after suffering a right quad contusion. Lewis did not score in the first quarter, missing all three of his shots.
After One Quarter
Posted at 7:39 p.m.
A late Rick Brunson run - he hit a three and a long jumper, to the chagrin of some media members who were dogging me for having Brunson on my fantasy-league team - gets the Clippers within four after one in a high-scoring affair, 31-27. I’d have to say this quarter was significantly better than the first quarter of the first matchup between these teams - the Clippers led 30-17 then.
I Was a Lottery Pick, Dang It!
Posted at 7:32 p.m.
Not a fun sequence for Clippers center Chris Kaman. In the last minute, he:
Threw an alley-oop too high to Corey Maggette, leading to a turnover
Was isolated against Antonio Daniels, getting called for the foul as Daniels drove to the basket and went for a layup
Was called for another foul after Rick Brunson couldn’t connect on several layup attempts
After his two fouls in twenty seconds, Kaman was replaced in the game by Elton Brand. A promising quarter went quickly awry for Kaman, and his team trails by seven.
Defending Brand
Posted at 7:25 p.m.
While he’s not the Clippers leading scorer (Corey Maggette is), Elton Brand is still the first person opposing teams usually think about defending. The Sonics are no exception. For the first seven minutes of this game, they’ve gone with center Jerome James, following their usual strategy against high-scoring power forwards. Against Brand, this figures to potentially be more effective because of Brand’s height and preference for the post.
“Normally, his (James’) length affects a player,” said Nate McMillan pregame. “Brand’s range is really limited, he’s around the 15-foot range, so once he gets inside, Jerome’s size gets him off the block, makes it tough for him to score.”
It was pretty effective in the early going, with Brand getting just two points on a putback and missing his other shot attempt.
Rain Delay
Posted at 7:22 p.m.
Between Bobby Simmons’ free throws, we had a momentary delay as ballboys wiped up some liquid that spilled in front of the Clippers bench. I was watching, but I’m still not sure what happened; it didn’t look like a true spill, but instead like the liquid came pouring out. Either way, it pays off for the Sonics: Simmons misses the second free throw. “They iced their own shooter,” comments one media member.
Looking Good
Posted at 7:19 p.m.
If Reggie Evans is still feeling the ill effects of his stomach problems, it isn’t evident so far. Evans has two points and two rebounds and has been as active as ever early. More surprising is how active Jerome James has been. James has four points, three rebounds and a block and distracted Corey Maggette from hitting a jumper by screaming at him on his runout.
Breaking News
Posted at 7:11 p.m.
We start tonight with the big stuff: Reggie Evans is dressed and in the starting lineup just a day after being released from the hospital, where he was battling Gastroenteritis. Also, Nate McMillan will not coach tomorrow night’s completion of the home-and-home series with the Clippers. McMillan is returning to North Carolina after tonight’s game following the death of his aunt. McMillan was particularly close to his aunt because he lived with her during high school. McMillan’s family moved, but he wanted to stay at Enloe High School, so he lived with his aunt through the time he was drafted by the Sonics.
Associate Head Coach Dwane Casey will be in charge tomorrow night. Casey has coached the team once before, also when McMillan went back to North Carolina three years ago today - Jan. 11, 2002. The Sonics won that game at KeyArena over the Cleveland Cavaliers, 102-100.
Signing On
Posted at 7:01 p.m.
It's a big night for Live From The Press Box. For the first time ever, I'm coming to you from the courtside press section at KeyArena for a regular-season Sonics game, close enough to get in the background of a few photos and listen to Mike Dunleavy chewing out Clippers players. We'll see what kind of added tidbits I can provide with the up close and personal view, but either way there should be good info all night long as Reggie Evans returns to the court from the Sonics and they try to even the season series with the Clippers, so be sure to hit refresh and stay with us throughout the evening.
