Live From the Press Box - Sonics vs. Phoenix
Want to enjoy the electricity of at KeyArena 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 quotes, analysis and observations from the game. E-mail Kevin at sonicsconnection@sonics-storm.com. Make sure to keep coming back or refreshing so you get the latest content.
Suns Survive Sonics
Final: Phoenix 106, Sonics 99
The Sonics threw an incredible scare into the Phoenix Suns tonight at KeyArena, but the Suns had enough down the stretch to escape with a win in their season opener. Phoenix had the upper hand in the fourth quarter, outscoring the Sonics 27-17 in the period. It was the 7-0 run late in the game that put the Sonics away.
The Sonics made progress again tonight. This was a strong defensive performance against the league's most dangerous offensive team. The Sonics forced 20 turnovers, contained Phoenix most of the night from downtown and avoided putting them on the line. They got balanced contributions on offense on a night that showcased the potential of Kevin Durant, who scored 27 points, as well as solid play from Chris Wilcox (23 points and 11 rebounds).
The Sonics will now have a couple of days to work in practice at The Furtado Center. On Sunday, they'll return to action, facing the L.A. Clippers at the STAPLES Center at 12:30 p.m. That game will be on KTTH 770 AM. Between now and then, make sure to check out SUPERSONICS.COM for coverage. The Sonics are back home next Wednesday to take on the Memphis Grizzlies. 
Get your tickets now to face a young and improving Memphis squad.
Suns Take Command
Fourth Quarter: Phoenix 103, Sonics 93
Phoenix may have put the exclamation point on this one with an Amaré Stoudemire dunk a moment ago that extended the lead to 10 points. It's a 7-0 run for the Suns with the game on the line.
Down Five
Fourth Quarter: Phoenix 98, Sonics 93
The Sonics still trail by five, but they have possession after our final media timeout at the 2:51 mark. They've also found a source for offense: Kevin Durant. Durant scored a jumper to get the Sonics back within three, then matched Raja Bell's triple with one of his own. Two Amaré Stoudemire free throws produced the current margin.
Sonics Hanging In
Fourth Quarter: Phoenix 93, Sonics 88
Down five with 5:02 left to play, the Sonics are very much in this game but will need a little bit of a run here to catch Phoenix. The Sonics have done a solid job on defense during the fourth quarter, but have found the offense touch to come by. They are 3-for-12 from the field with three turnovers. You can sense a little indecision about where the scoring is going to come from in these types of situations. Wally Szczerbiak could be a source of that offense. The veteran has checked back into the game at this timeout.
Stoudemire Powers Suns to Lead
Fourth Quarter: Phoenix 88, Sonics 84
Any more questions about Amaré Stoudemire's comeback from arthroscopic knee surgery? Any? Before the game, Suns Head Coach Mike D'Antoni said Stoudemire had been "awesome" in practices. He started off the game with 10 points in the first quarter and has scored six of the nine points for the Suns in this period, helping Phoenix take a four-point lead with 9:01 left to play. Phoenix has been aided by a couple of costly Sonics turnovers, but the team has regained its composure.
Incidentally, with 19 points and 11 rebounds, Stoudemire is one of three Suns with a double-double (Shawn Marion has 12 points and 10 boards and Steve Nash has 12 points and 11 assists). For the Sonics, Chris Wilcox has his first double-double of the season, scoring 19 points and pulling down 11 boards.
Benches Square Off
End Third Quarter: Sonics 82, Phoenix 79
Contributions from both benches kept the Sonics up, but by just three, as we head to the final period of play. Wally Szczerbiak scored his first two baskets in a Sonics uniform, including a three-pointer. The Sonics stretched out their lead, but Marcus Banks closed the quarter with consecutive three-pointers. In the preseason and in their opener, the Sonics have experienced a lot of success through three quarters only to slip a little in the fourth period. That makes this fourth quarter an interesting test.
The Sonics will open the period with Earl Watson, Szczerbiak, Jeff Green - who also heated up late in the third - Chris Wilcox and Nick Collison. Steve Nash and Shawn Marion rest for Phoenix.
Getting Serious
Third Quarter: Sonics 72, Phoenix 71
The mood on the floor was light during the first half as the Sonics claimed the lead in the early going. Now things have gotten a little more tense and you can tell there's a different air about the Suns - they're focused on avoiding a road loss to start their season. Sensing the need for a veteran presence, P.J. Carlesimo has gotten Wally Szczerbiak into the game.
One lucky fan, Alex from Issaquah, was chosen during the first half to get a Sonics makeover. The Sonics Dance Team showed him off during this timeout - sporting brand new Sonics gear, including a foam finger, all from the Sonics & Storm Team Shop here at KeyArena.
Up and Down
Third Quarter: Sonics 66, Phoenix 63
Frenetic pace to the start of this second half of basketball. Both teams have looked a little out of control at times in this stretch. The Sonics will try to assert control after a timeout with a few substitutions - Jeff Green, Johan Petro and Delonte West will check into the game.
The Sonics Dance Team takes the court during the timeout in jersey dresses replete with sparkles on the "Sonics."
Winning With Defense
Halftime: Sonics 58, Phoenix 55
55 points allowed doesn't sound like a very good half on defense. For the Sonics tonight, it was for two reasons. The first is one we always like to keep in mind at SUPERSONICS.COM: possessions. This being a fast paced game, the Suns had approximately 54 of them in the first half. The Suns scored at a rate of 102.3 points per 100 possessions - that's below the NBA average. When you consider on top of that how potent the Suns normally are on offense - Phoenix's Offensive Rating was a league-best 116.1 points per 100 possessions last season - that's an excellent defensive half of basketball.
Wilkins Three Caps Great Half
Halftime: Sonics 58, Phoenix 55
With time running out on the first half of play, Damien Wilkins pulled up right at halfcourt and fired a long three-pointer just before the buzzer. It was true, giving the Sonics a three-point advantage as they head to the locker room. How about the first half for Kevin Durant? Durant scored a game-high 18 points on 7-for-14 shooting, including several dazzling plays that brought the KeyArena crowd out of its seats.
Suns Out of Comfort Zone
Second Quarter: Sonics 51, Phoenix 50
The Phoenix Suns are rarely as out of their comfort zone as they appear to be tonight. The Suns are still shooting the ball at a high percentage (51.2%), but they're 4-of-17 from three-point range and now have 11 turnovers - for 17 Sonics points. Steve Nash has, by his insanely high standards, had a tough night. He's got six assists but five turnovers. Meanwhile, Sonics point guards Earl Watson, Delonte West and Luke Ridnour have combined for 10 assists with just two giveaways.
The Aggressors
Second Quarter: Sonics 39, Phoenix 37
The Sonics have come out with energy and aggressiveness here in this second quarter - and the entire first half, for that matter. One excellent example: Rookie Jeff Green taking the ball hard to the hole against highly-regarded defender Shawn Marion. Green didn't score, but he hustled back on the other end and took a charge against Amaré Stoudemire - Stoudemire's third foul. The Sonics have allowed just one offensive rebound tonight. Luke Ridnour has come off the bench looking to dish the basketball and has three quick assists.
The Sonics Boom Squad makes its 2007-08 debut and the crowd goes nuts for the one and only Lil' Boom. Amongst tonight's crowd? Kid Rock, who was presented a jersey during the timeout by members of the Sonics Dance Team.
Beating the Suns at Their Own Game
Second Quarter: Sonics 35, Phoenix 32
Something you don't often see on a box score: A team nearly doubling up the Phoenix Suns in fast-break points. That's right - after a Kevin Durant triple in transition a moment ago, the Sonics have 15 fast-break points to just eight for Phoenix. The Suns have hardly been shut down, but the Sonics have held in check their two most efficient means of scoring - the break and the three-point line. Phoenix is 2-of-9 from downtown. The Sonics have played a lot of zone since the middle of the first quarter, another thing you don't often see against the Suns.
Suns by One After One
End First Quarter: Phoenix 27, Sonics 26
A little bit of a dry spell on offense for the Sonics late in the first quarter has allowed Phoenix to reclaim the lead after the Sonics led almost throughout the period. The Sonics have cooled off from the field; they hit 11-for-24 from the field in the quarter. Phoenix shot an even 50%, but committed an uncharacteristic five turnovers - four from Steve Nash. A lot of activity from the Sonics on defense tonight.
A little play late in the period that was nice to see. After Chris Wilcox drew a shooting foul and hit the deck in front of the Sonics bench, a couple of teammates rushed over to help him up. Love that teamwork.
We saw Delonte West play some minutes at shooting guard late in the first quarter. P.J. Carlesimo said before the game that the small backcourt was a possibility and that it could put Luke Ridnour back in the rotation tonight - lo and behold, he'll start the second quarter at the point.
Opening up the E-Mailbox
First Quarter: Sonics 25, Phoenix 21
We've got readers all over the world. I got this message from Marcelo in Buenos Aires, Argentina:
"Thanks for give this opportunity of sending messages around the world. I hope the Sonics will have a very good season and progress forward. I trust Carlesimo's work, the Sonics have a group of players which are young but with a tremendous energy on the court so as to win basketball's games. Let's go SONICS!! BABY!!! YEAH!!!"
Thanks for reading all the way in Argentina, Marcelo! And even if you're only in the Seattle area, you can e-mail me during the game at sonicsconnection@sonics-storm.com.
Sonics Stake Early Lead
First Quarter: Sonics 19, Phoenix 17
Six and a half minutes in, these two teams have been hard to separate. We've already had 10 ties in the game. Currently, the Sonics hold a two-point advantage. They've been able to use a couple of early steals - both off of Raja Bell turnovers - to get out on the fast break, including one that resulted in an athletic finish where Kevin Durant slithered to avoid the defense as he laid the ball up and in. He's got seven early points.
Opening Night Festivities
Pregame
Extra pageantry tonight as part of Opening Night. Starters were silhouetted against a white screen before being introduced and running out to cheers with some small fireworks. Veteran center Kurt Thomas, who is sitting out tonight's game because of his right hamstring strain, took the microphone to welcome fans to KeyArena and tell them to "get it started."
The National Anthem was performed by Marcus Pettit, who has been signing the National Anthem at KeyArena since he was a kid. He's grown up so much I barely recognized him this time.
Get Ready to Run
Pregame
For the second straight night, the Sonics have packed their track shoes. After facing Denver a night ago, the Sonics get another of the league's fastest-paced teams in the Phoenix Suns - the group you might say started the trend toward a faster style of play three years ago, when they started having success while getting up and down the court. Last year, the Nuggets and Golden State actually played faster than the Suns. Now, the Sonics and Indiana are amongst the teams looking to push the pace.
"Obviously, it's a lot easier to do that," says Suns Head Coach Mike D'Antoni. The success enjoyed by the Suns and the other running teams has given coaches a good reason to experiment with something they might not have tried a few years ago. Meanwhile, D'Antoni also cited the rules re-interpretation from 2004-05 that has limited contact on the perimeter, putting an emphasis on speed - which has translated into faster play.
For tonight, both teams hope to get out in transition while getting back to make sure the other side is unable to get easy buckets. That's easier said than done, but whether either team is able to pull it off will factor heavily in the final outcome.
Signing On
Pregame
Welcome to KeyArena, where the Sonics will host the Phoenix Suns tonight on Opening Night. The fans are filling in to their seats and anticipation is building for a new season of Sonics basketball here at the Key. You couldn't ask for a much better matchup to open up. The Suns might have their best team of a run that has seen them average 59 wins over the last three seasons. With a healthy roster and the addition of Grant Hill, the Suns are hoping tonight is the start of a championship run. The Sonics complete a back-to-back that started with last night's opener in Denver. This will be another fast-paced game, so look for the Sonics to make use of their depth tonight.
