Live From the Press Box - Sonics vs. New Orleans
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.
Hornets Have Too Much Firepower
Final: New Orleans 107, Sonics 93
The Sonics made things interesting during the fourth quarter, but with their starters back in the game, the New Orleans Hornets put away a 107-93 victory that moves them to 16-10 on the season. Tonight was a really big effort for the Hornets starting five. All five starters scored at least 16 points and three (Tyson Chandler, Chris Paul and David West) recorded double-doubles. On top of that, Morris Peterson was on fire, scoring 25 points and tying his career high with seven three-pointers. The Sonics, who struggled offensively in the first half, couldn't compete with that production.
Give a group made up largely of reserves credit for fighting over the last quarter-plus and changing the game with their energy, but the Sonics had fallen too far behind to make a comeback possible. Three reserves (Nick Collison, Luke Ridnour and Wally Szczerbiak) scored double-figures and Jeff Green might have been the most effective bench player, with six points and a career-high five assists.
The Sonics will be back at KeyArena on Friday to host the Toronto Raptors in the lone visit this season for Canada's team. Toronto has built off an Atlantic Division Championship last year and is off to a solid start again this season with an international-heavy team. 
Click here to get your tickets and be here at the Key on Friday!
Durant Brightens Holidays
Fourth Quarter: New Orleans 93, Sonics 77
Yesterday, Sonics rookie Kevin Durant and his family hosted 26 elementary students from First Place School to an afternoon of shopping and dining in Seattle. Each student received a $200 gift card to NIKETOWN for a 90-minute shopping spree. After that, the students boarded a bus and went to SPORT Restaurant to join Durant and his family for a special dinner that included a visit from Sonics mascot Squatch. We've got
an article on the event on the site, but I also wanted to ask Durant before tonight's game about interacting with the kids.
"I just played around with them a lot," he said. "When we went to eat, there were little girls that always tried to take my phone. They were just playful. I don't have a younger brother or younger sister to play around with. There were 20-plus kids, so I felt like an older brother."
Running Out of Time
Fourth Quarter: New Orleans 93, Sonics 77
The Hornets starters haven't entirely turned this game around, but they've slowed the Sonics and even increased the lead. With less than six minutes left to play in the fourth quarter, time has become the biggest factor.
Sonics Trying to Make a Run
Fourth Quarter: New Orleans 86, Sonics 72
It may be too late, but the Sonics are on the move trying to get back into this game. Their run is 19-7 since the Hornets led by 26 points, a margin that has now been cut to 14. The unit of Luke Ridnour, Wally Szczerbiak, Damien Wilkins, Jeff Green and Nick Collison is having a lot of success right now. Time is working against the Sonics right now, and we will see how they respond as Byron Scott gets four of his five starters back in the game.
Green Means Energy
End Third Quarter: New Orleans 81, Sonics 63
The Sonics will take some measure of momentum into the final quarter, having outscored the Hornets 10-2 to close the third period. Rookie forward Jeff Green was the key, though you can't really tell from his stat line (two points, four rebounds, two assists). Green was playing harder than anyone on the court in that span, taking a charge and leading a break after a rebound that turned into a Damien Wilkins three-pointer. Green always brings energy when he's in the game.
N timeout promotion seems to get the fans here at KeyArena going quite like the Air Guitar contest sponsored by XBOX 360 and Guitar Heroes III: Legends of Rock. Fans all over the arena are doing their best air Jimi Hendrix to try to win an XBOX 360, and it's a whole lot of fun.
Paul the Magnificent
Third Quarter: New Orleans 79, Sonics 53
Chris Paul is putting his skills on display tonight. Paul has scored 15 points. He's handed out 13 assists. He's pilfered four steals and he has just three turnovers. When Paul is going like that and the Hornets are hitting their three-pointers, as they are tonight (8-of-15), they are awfully difficult to beat. Sonics turnovers have made it even more difficult. For much of the first half, the teams were essentially even in terms of turnovers, but the Sonics now have 15 to seven for New Orleans.
Return of Offense
Third Quarter: New Orleans 73, Sonics 51
Both teams are making up for last time in terms of scoring the basketball. They've scored a combined 39 points midway through the third quarter, which has already almost matched their combined total from the entire first quarter (41). For the Sonics, Kevin Durant has looked determined to score during this stretch, scoring eights points on 3-of-5 shooting and setting up his teammates as well. On the New Orleans side, Morris Peterson is on fire. He's got 11 points in the third quarter and 22 for the game, including six three-pointers.
Unfortunately for the Sonics, trading buckets isn't going to get them back in this game. They're going to have to stay hot on offense and get some stops to make a run.
Hot Doggin'
Halftime: New Orleans 52, Sonics 33
Halftime brings us a performance by Hot Dog USA, my favorite jump rope team. OK, they are the only jump rope team I know, but they are terrific and
based in nearby Kirkland.
Rough Offensive Half for Sonics
Halftime: New Orleans 52, Sonics 33
The Sonics were limited to 33 first-half points, their lowest scoring total for a half in the season to date. The team shot 32.6% from the field (14-of-43) and committed 12 turnovers. Nobody on the Sonics has scored double-figures and only thee players on the roster have made more than one field goal. For a while, the Sonics were playing outstanding defense, which allowed them to stay in the game. Once the Hornets picked up their scoring, however, they were able to open up a sizeable lead. The Sonics rallied after a poor first half to make a game of it earlier this month in New Orleans, and they'll have to try to do the same tonight.
Hornets on the Run
Second Quarter: New Orleans 42, Sonics 26
With the starters for both sides getting back in the game, the Hornets have gone on an 8-0 run since the last timeout to take control. Their 16-point lead is the largest margin of the evening. The Sonics still have been unable to get anything going on offense. They're shooting just 30.8'% from the field and only Chris Wilcox has shot at least 50% from the field with at least two shot attempts.
Free Throw Free
Second Quarter: New Orleans 34, Sonics 26
Not a real tightly-called game so far tonight. We've had just one free throw by either side, a David West three-point play. Each team has been called for three fouls so far. I'm not sure who, if anyone, that style of play tends to favor. Surely it's part of the reason why this game has been a defensive affair so far.
The Washington State men's basketball team is in the house tonight. The 9-0 Cougs, ranked sixth and seventh in the country depending on what poll you favor, will be taking on The Citadel on this floor tomorrow night in the Cougar Hardwood Classic.
Bench Battle
Second Quarter: New Orleans 28, Sonics 20
To win this game, the Sonics will likely need to win the matchup of the two benches. The New Orleans reserve unit has struggled this season, and injuries haven't helped. Four reserves are in for the Hornets right now, while the Sonics have had five bench players on the floor at times and now have four. So far, you'd have to call the matchup a draw as neither team has been able to take command of the second quarter. The Sonics have a 6-2 advantage in bench scoring on a pair of Wally Szczerbiak three-pointers.
Joined by "Lil' Boom," Jalen, the Sonics Boom Squad rocks the house during the timeout.
Making Inroads
End First Quarter: New Orleans 24, Sonics 17
Over the last minute and a half of the quarter after the under-three timeout, there was just one score, a Wally Szczerbiak three-pointer to bring the Sonics back within seven. The Sonics have tightened up their defense and are doing a good job against Chris Paul, who has four points and three assists so far. Paul was stopped cold on a fast break late in the period when Luke Ridnour used quick hands to rip the basketball away from him cleanly for a steal. Given they shot just 33.3% in the first quarter, the Sonics have to feel OK about being in the game.
One note: Veteran referee Dick Bavetta came over to acknowledge cheering fans behind the press table. There aren't a lot of officials in the NBA with that kind of following.
Sonics Scoring Dryspell
First Quarter: New Orleans 24, Sonics 14
Before putting together a pair of baskets just before the timeout, the Sonics went over five minutes without a score. They've done a much better job of containing the Hornets on defense since the timeout, but have been unable to get into much of a rhythm on offense. As a team, the Sonics are shooting 7-for-22, good for 31.8%. New Orleans is a strong defensive team, but don't expect that to continue.
Speaking of New Orleans, the NBA All-Star Game will be played at the New Orleans Arena and voting for All-Star starters is still underway. Click here to vote for Luke Ridnour, Nick Collison Kevin Durant and Wally Szczerbiak to go to New Orleans.
Hornets Hitting Early
First Quarter: New Orleans 18, Sonics 10
A good sign for the New Orleans Hornets early as Morris Peterson had a three-pointer shortly into the game. Remarkably, the Hornets are 12-2 this season when Peterson hits a three. They're also 11-2 when making more free throws than the opposition, so clearly threes are a big deal for New Orleans. The Hornets are 2-of-4 from downtown so far and used those triples as part of a 9-2 run to take control of the game after trailing very early.
Thomas to Start
Pregame
Sonics veteran Kurt Thomas will be back in the lineup tonight after missing Saturday's game with a sprained right ankle. Thomas did not practice yesterday for precautionary reasons, but felt better today and decided to give it a go after warming up before the game. Thomas will start at center for the Sonics.
Signing On
Pregame
Welcome to KeyArena, where the Sonics are preparing to host the New Orleans Hornets. It's been a while since we've been here at the Key. The last Sonics home game was Dec. 7, a full 12 days ago. In between, the Sonics played a five-game, seven-day road trip that included a stop at the New Orleans Arena. They've had three days since their last game Saturday at Utah, including two completely off days. Now it's time to get back on the court for a matchup with one of the NBA's top young point guards in Chris Paul and one of the league's better defenses.
