Live From the Press Box - Sonics vs. Memphis
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.
Memphis Tops Sonics
Final: Memphis 105, Sonics 98
The Sonics were one stop away from having the ball with a chance to tie or take the lead in the final minute, but Kyle Lowry's three-pointer sealed this one for the Grizzlies tonight. The Sonics had hteir best defensive performance of the season, holding Memphis to 37.6% shooting, but a couple of familiar areas were problematic - turnovers and sending the opponent to the free-throw line.
Kevin Durant didn't find his shot tonight, but demonstrated an ability to contribute nonetheless, attempting 10 free throw sand making them all - including big ones down the stretch. Chris Wilcox and Damien Wilkins led the Sonics on offense, combining for 39 points. The Sonics showed improved help defense with their nine blocked shots - one off last year's season high.
The Sonics will be back here on Friday to take on the Utah Jazz in the first Friday Night Live matchup of the young season. Join us for an evening of fun including a matchup with the favorites to win the Northwest Division. Utah is coming off a trip to last year's Western Conference Finals. 
Get your tickets now!
Dagger
Fourth Quarter: Memphis 103, Sonics 98
Kyle Lowry just hit the biggest shot of his NBA career. Finishing the game at point guard for the Grizzlies, Lowry missed a runner attempt in the paint but collected his own rebound and reset the Memphis offense. With the shot clock running down, the Grizzlies kicked him the ball for a good look at a three and Lowry buried it to push the lead to five with 11.3 seconds left. Barring a miracle, Memphis will win.
Looking for a Stop
Fourth Quarter: Memphis 100, Sonics 98
Kevin Durant has shown the ability to get to the free-throw line tonight, and it has come up big down the stretch. He has four free throws on the last two Sonics possessions as they've come from down six to within two with 48.9 seconds left. A stop here would make things very, very interesting - there's still tons of time left.
Grizzlies Take Control
Fourth Quarter: Memphis 98, Sonics 92
The Sonics felt good a minute ago. They got the ball down two with a chance to tie or even take the lead nearing three minutes left to play. After a charge was called against Earl Watson, however, Rudy Gay answered with a difficult turnaround jumper to make the lead four points for Memphis. On the last Grizzlies possession, Brian Cardinal drove and missed, but was able to tip the rebound in for a six-point advantage with 2:30 left to play. The Sonics will have to link together some stops and somes cores in a hurry after this timeout if they are to come back.
Sonics Looking for Offense
Fourth Quarter: Memphis 92, Sonics 87
The challenge right now for the Sonics is finding a player they can go to in these kinds of situations and count on a basket. With the changes this team has made, there isn't one player who automatically steps forward at this point of the game. Tonight, Damien Wilkins and Chris Wilcox have been the team's most consistently productive players on offense. They've got 18 points apiece on combined 16-for-23 shooting. Wilcox is headed to the free-throw line after this timeout for two shots with a chance to get the Sonics within one possession.
Sonics Defense Steps Up
Fourth Quarter: Memphis 87, Sonics 85
The Sonics have clamped down defensively against the Grizzlies in the first three minutes and change of this final period, holding them scoreless. Memphis has missed all four of its shot attempts and committed a pair of turnovers. The Sonics have not gotten a lot of scoring either, but a Delonte West jumper and a Chris Wilcox layup have them back within two points at 87-85 at the under-nine media timeout.
The Sonics Dance Team is out on the floor for this timeout, and that reminds me to remind you that the 2007-08 Sonics Dance Team Calendar will be unveiled tomorrow night at Sport Restaurant and Grill from 7-9 p.m. Enjoy Miller drink specials, buy your calendar for $15 and get it signed by the best dance team in the NBA!
Grizzlies Take Momentum to Fourth Period
End Third Quarter: Memphis 87, Sonics 81
It was all Memphis in the second half of the third period. They finished the quarter with two straight three-point plays to take a six-point lead as we go to the final 12 minutes of action. P.J. Carlesimo has looked at several different combinations down low tonight but has yet to find the right one. The Sonics will start the fourth quarter small, with Jeff Green at power forward and Chris Wilcox at center. Memphis has Pau Gasol in the middle flanked by Brian Cardinal.
Green's Energy Key
Third Quarter: Sonics 77, Memphis 77
Memphis has rallied to tie this game, but the Grizzlies would already have the lead were it not for the lift Jeff Green has given the Sonics off the bench. The rookie forward has three of the last four Sonics field goals, including a pair of missed shots that he tipped back up and in. Those are great hustle plays that can mean the difference between victory and defeat.
During tonight's game, the Sonics were looking for the best air guitar to Van Halen's "You Really Got Me." The winner took home an XBOX 360. It's all part of XBOX 360 Student Rush Night. Check out the Student Rush page for more details and a schedule of upcoming Student Rush Nights - including Friday's tilt against Utah.
Grizzlies Make a Run
Third Quarter: Sonics 69, Memphis 65
The Sonics have led by as many as 14 points during this quarter, but a 10-2 run has brought Memphis back within four at the 6:23 mark, drawing a P.J. Carlesimo timeout. Chris Wilcox started the third quarter with three straight buckets as the Sonics extended the lead, but the game has changed since then, with the Grizzlies pounding the middle and kicking out for open looks. Mike Miller has a pair of three-pointers in the run. For the game, he's got 18 points - all on three-pointers. Memphis is 8-of-15 from downtown as a team.
Sonics Take Momentum to Locker Room
Halftime: Sonics 57, Memphis 49
Strong second quarter for the Sonics, who outscored Memphis 33-22 in the period. They finished out the period with a 21-8 surge. Damien Wilkins found his touch, hitting a pair of three-pointers during the stretch. He's got 12 points in the first half to lead the Sonics, and he and Chris Wilcox (who has scored 10 points on 5-of-6 shooting) have five rebounds apiece. The Sonics are outshooting Memphis 51.1% to 28.8% in this half, making it hard to believe their advantage isn't larger.
Chris Wilcox's block on Memphis' last possession of the first half was the Sonics eighth of the game. Wilcox, Wilkins, Nick Collison and Robert Swift each have two swats. Last season, the Sonics topped out at 10 blocks two times.
Sonics Surge Ahead
Second Quarter: Sonics 50, Memphis 45
A 14-4 run draws a timeout from Grizzlies Coach Marc Iavaroni. Kevin Durant, heretofore quiet, has gone for seven points in the run and the Sonics have started to run the basketball with more consistency. They've got 10 fast-break points to five for Memphis.
For the Grizzlies, rookie Mike Conley, Jr. is making his NBA debut tonight. He's played most of the second quarter. Conley scored his first NBA bucket on a layup where he showed off his incredible quickness.
Starters Powering Grizzlies
Second Quarter: Memphis 41, Sonics 36
Consecutive Mike Miller three-pointers have allowed Memphis to reclaim the lead here at KeyArena. The Sonics have a 16-6 advantage in bench scoring, but the Grizzlies have gotten more balanced production from the starting five, which is why they hold the lead. Other than Darko Milicic, who has not seen the floor in the second quarter, the other four Memphis starters have at least five points.
Sonics Take the Lead
Second Quarter: Sonics 34, Memphis 33
Nice effort from the second unit during this second quarter of play. The Sonics have outscored Memphis 10-6 in the period to reclaim the lead. Wally Szczerbiak isn't unconscious like he was last night, but he's got six early points on 3-for-4 shooting to help get the Sonics offense going.
Speaking of Szczerbiak, P.J. Carlesimo gave credit before tonight's game to the rest of the Sonics who were on the floor during Szczerbiak's big second quarter in Sacramento.
"I thought our guys did a very good job in terms of getting Wally the ball," Carlesimo said. "I think sometimes when you score a lot of points, you don't realize sometimes it's not always just you. It's guys getting you the ball, guys setting screens and guys doing other things. I thought particularly in the first half we did an excellent job getting him the ball in good shape and Wally took advantage of it."
Fast-Paced
End First Quarter: Memphis 27, Sonics 24
My quick math shows the Grizzlies with 29 possessions in that first quarter of play, which is an extremely fast pace for a game. Both of these teams want to push the basketball this season, though the Sonics have done so more thus far - they're the fast-paced team in the NBA in terms of possessions per game.
I get the feeling the fast pace means we're going to do a lot of teaching about evaluating offense and defense on a per-possession basis, and the first quarter tonight is yet another good example. Allowing 27 pints is usually pretty bad defense, but when it comes on 29 possessions, it's actually very good. The Grizzlies shot just 29.2% from the field in the first quarter. The Sonics were only slightly better at 37.9%.
Sonics Getting Looks
First Quarter: Memphis 22, Sonics 18
The Sonics are shooting just 34.8% from the field (8-of-23), but they've gotten good looks at the basket. They've missed three point-blank bank shots, and seen other open looks fail to connect. A similar fate befell the team in the fourth quarter of last night's loss in Sacramento.
"I liked a lot more the things we did in the fourth quarter," Sonics Head Coach P.J. Carlesimo said before tonight's game. "I liked the ball movement. I liked getting people involved. I think, for the most part, we took care of the ball and we understood what we were trying to do down the stretch. It's disappointing when you get a couple of good looks and they don't go."
Eventually, however, those shots are bound to fall. The Sonics just have to stay with it.
Swift Looks Sharp
First Quarter: Memphis 16, Sonics 14
Nice start to tonight's game for Robert Swift. Swift played the first 4:10 and had four points, two rebounds and a block in that span, recoding a putback at the rim for his field goal. After a short stint on the bench, Swift will return to the game at this timeout, with Nick Collison shifting to power forward.
You learn a lot of things sitting courtside, as I am tonight on media row. For example, I either didn't know or forgot how much Pau Gasol screams during a game. He's cried out both times he has drawn fouls so far.
Swift Goes Back-to-Back
Pregame
Sonics center Robert Swift will play and start for the second straight night. There had been some question about Swift's ability to play in both ends of back-to-back sets early in the season, but he felt good when he warmed up before tonight's game and was given the go-ahead to play.
"It's usually more the morning after," Swift said of when he can tell he's making progress. "This morning felt great - considering."
Swift played 18 minutes last night, finishing with two points, five rebounds and two blocked shots.
A Swift will actually be out of the lineup tonight, but it's Memphis reserve Stromile Swift. He is day-to-day with a neck injury that has left him inactive tonight. That could mean some extra minutes for Andre Brown, who spent last season in Seattle.
Signing On
Pregame
For the second time this season, we're at KeyArena as the Sonics host the Memphis Grizzlies in a matchup of two teams looking for their first win of the young season. These are two teams with new head coaches who are looking to push the ball to take full advantage of their young talent. There are interesting similarities between the two teams, which should make for a fun game. Stay with us all night long for the latest.
