Live From the Press Box - Sonics vs. Chicago
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Bulls Get Best of Sonics
Final: Chicago 118, Sonics 108
The Sonics were never out of it, but the Bulls maintained a comfortable margin throughout the fourth quarter and eventually finished off a win over the Sonics. Chicago's big advantage on the offensive glass (23-11) was enough to offset the fact that the Sonics had one of their better shooting games of the year, hitting 48.7% from the field. Five Bulls scored at least 14 points and the team's point total - albeit one inflated by late Sonics fouls - was their third-highest this season.
The Sonics, meanwhile, saw their three-game winning streak come to an end. They got strong nights from swingmen Kevin Durant and Wally Szczerbiak, who scored 41 points on near-50% shooting. However, the Bulls made good on Jim Boylan's pregame goal of containing the Seattle big men who have been playing so well recently. Chris Wilcox scored 13 points and Nick Collison grabbed nine boards before fouling out, but overall this group was not nearly as effective as they have been during the winning streak and before. A plus up front was Robert Swift's ability to return to the lineup and play some productive minutes.
The Sonics will head out on the road tomorrow with this seven-game homestand coming to an end. They'll play Wednesday in Sacramento and Friday in Phoenix. After a well-deserved break, the Sonics will be back at home for their last game before the All-Star break a week from Wednesday, Feb. 13, against the Northwest-leading Utah Jazz. 
Get your tickets now to see a Jazz team that has been rolling of late.
Making Some Noise
Fourth Quarter: Chicago 113, Sonics 105
Just when this game appeared to be in the books, the Sonics get a steal in the backcourt and a Delonte West three-pointer to get the margin to eight. The time - 57.2 seconds - works against them, but this one is not over quite yet.
Edit: Looks like something was up with the scoreboard. In fact, it was apparently a 10-point game.
Last Run?
Fourth Quarter: Chicago 105, Sonics 95
With 2:57 left to play and down 10 with possession, we'll see if the Sonics have a final run in them to try to make the Bulls sweat. They were within eight a moment ago, but Chicago got a Ben Gordon score off of a curl to push the margin back to 10. Let's hope the up-and-down season for the Bulls hasn't caused people to forget how good this team can be at its best. P.J. Carlesimo offered a reminder before the game.
"I still think, when they get Luol (Deng) back and when Jimmy (Boylan) gets another couple of games with this group, I think they are a playoff team," said Carlesimo. "I think that the Bulls are a good team. I think they have the potential to be a deserving playoff team. They were in the mix last year - not just in the playoffs but I don't think anybody was anxious to play them."
Incidentally, Kirk Hinrich's night has ended due to bruised ribs.
Bulls Shooting Sonics Out of It
Fourth Quarter: Chicago 99, Sonics 88
When the Chicago Bulls are shooting the ball well from the perimeter, they're a very tough team to beat - and that's even true when they're not crashing the offensive glass like they have tonight. Especially here in the second half, the Bulls have been making big shots from outside, including a couple of looks for Ben Gordon here in the period. For the evening, they've hit 53.8% from downtown, 7-of-13.
It looks like Robert Swift's evening is done after 5:40, as Nick Collison will replace him. Very credible run for Swift, who banked in a free-throw line jumper to go 2-for-2 on the evening. He added a rebound and a block. Incidentally, part of the reason Swift was able to get some run tonight is because Kurt Thomas' night is over due to a scratched right eye.
Trading Scores
Fourth Quarter: Chicago 94, Sonics 84
11 points apiece for these two teams during the fourth quarter so far. The Sonics had some momentum going after Luke Ridnour hit a three-pointer in transition, but Chris Duhon answered with a triple of his own for the Bulls to push their lead back to 10. That trading of scores won't help the Sonics who need to cut into this deficit with a little over eight minutes left to go.
Sonics center Robert Swift has shown some understandable rust tonight, committing a foul on Aaron Gray and perhaps being overanxious to help. However, Swift also knocked down a midrange jumper and blocked a shot - very good signs considering how long it has been since he has been on an NBA court.
"I can't imagine that his conditioning is any good," P.J. Carlesimo said before tonight's game. "I can't imagine that his timing is any good."
Bulls Take Double-Figures Advantage to Fourth
End Third Quarter: Chicago 83, Sonics 73
This game has developed a weird rhythm. The Bulls make a run to extend their lead, then the Sonics cut it down to a respectable margin, then Chicago extends again ... shower, rinse, repeat. It's one of those Bulls surges that leaves the Sonics down 10 as we go to the final period of play. No secrets here down the stretch. The Sonics have to make sure they got stops by finishing out defensive possessions with a defensive board. Chicago had six more offensive rebounds in the third quarter and has 20 for the game.
We'll see if Robert Swift makes a difference. That's right, the 7-1 center will see action for the first time since Nov. 11.
"If there's a situation where we can get him out there for three minutes or five minutes between timeouts, maybe (he'll play)," said Sonics Head Coach P.J. Carlesimo before the game. "I don't know that we can find minutes for him tonight, but we have to start finding minutes for him and building him up."
Ball Movement Pays Off for Sonics
Third Quarter: Chicago 77, Sonics 71
While the Sonics continue to have their issues on the defensive glass, they have done a terrific job of moving the ball on offense to get good looks, the reason why they are shooting 51.9% from the field. The Sonics have 19 assists on 28 field goals, getting eight from point guard Earl Watson. The good ball movement got center Johan Petro a dunk before the timeout, and he has now scored double-figures for the third time this season.
He can't be happy about being on crutches, but tonight it paid off for one fun who used his crutch as a guitar during the XBOX360 and Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock Air Guitar competition. Well done!
Similar Script
Third Quarter: Chicago 69, Sonics 59
More of the same so far in the second half for the Sonics and Bulls. Chicago has another three offensive rebounds and is up to 17 for the game. Meanwhile, the Sonics have committed two more turnovers, giving them 12 tonight. One troubling sign: Andres Nocioni has gotten hot for the Bulls, hitting a pair of third-quarter three-pointers to give him four - and 14 points - for the game.
P.J. Carlesimo goes to his bench early in this third quarter, bringing Wally Szczerbiak, Nick Collison and Johan Petro in at this timeout.
Offensive Boards Hurt Sonics in First Half
Halftime: Chicago 56, Sonics 49
The Sonics started the game hot on the offensive glass, but it was the Bulls who used their boardwork to take control of the game in the second quarter. Chicago had 10 offensive rebounds in the quarter and 14 in the first half - six by center Ben Wallace. The Bulls scored 13 second-chance points, and their advantage in this category basically explains their entire lead in this game. The Sonics will also have to do a better job of taking care of the basketball after 10 first-half turnovers.
The go-to players for the Sonics in the first half were swingmen Kevin Durant and Wally Szczerbiak, who combined for 25 points on 10-of-18 shooting, with Szczerbiak scoring a trio of three-pointers. The Sonics shot 47.5% from the field and better than 50% from downtown, but were hurt by the turnovers and the fact that the Bulls got up nine additional shots thanks to their offensive rebounding.
Szczerbiak Gets Hot
Second Quarter: Chicago 44, Sonics 42
An 8-2 run has brought the Sonics within two and Wally Szczerbiak is the key. Szczerbiak hit back-to-back three-pointers, giving him a game-high 14 points tonight. Great job by Kevin Durant to set up Szczerbiak for the first of the two triples, his second assist on a night when he is filling up the stat sheet.
A random observation: There are a lot of former NBA big men in the house tonight. Chicago's broadcast crew includes legendary Johnny "Red" Kerr, Stacey King and Bill Wennington. James Edwards, the Seattle native and KeyArena regular who finished his career by winning a championship with the Bulls, said hello to Wennington, who chatted with Russ Schoene (an NBA observer) during the last timeout. Chicago also recently added Mike Brown to the team's coaching staff. That's "The Big Brown Bear" who played for several teams during his career, not the Cleveland head coach.
Carlesimo on Knight
Second Quarter: Chicago 40, Sonics 34
Late this afternoon, news broke that legendary Bob Knight had resigned effective immediately from Texas Tech, allowing his son Pat to take over head-coaching duties for the remainder of this season and beyond. The news came so late that Sonics Head Coach P.J. Carlesimo had yet to get word before he was asked about his relationship with Knight by the media before the game.
"I've known him since I was probably eight or 10 years old, when he was an assistant at Army and he lectured at Camp St. Andrews in the Poconos," said Carlesimo. "He's a good friend to my family. I consider him a good friend, a mentor, somebody who helped me enormously."
More than anything, Carlesimo will remember Knight's teaching ability.
"To me, he's as good a teacher of the game of basketball - and he's one of the best coaches, it goes without saying - he's one of the best teachers of basketball that has ever coached," he said. "People can talk about tall the other stuff, but if you want to analyze practice and games and watch a team play and how they play the game of basketball, there are very few that are even in the same group as him.
"When you lose one of the best teachers and the best coaches in the game, that's not good for basketball."
No Rust Evident
Second Quarter: Chicago 33, Sonics 32
Wally Szczerbiak hasn't played since last Tuesday against San Antonio, but you wouldn't know it from the way he has performed so far tonight. Szczerbiak has eight points on 3-of-7 shooting to lead the Sonics, including making his only three-point attempt so far. Led by Szczerbiak, the Sonics bench has outscored Chicago's reserves 16-12 so far tonight. Given the Bulls bring their leading scorer, Ben Gordon, off the bench, that's more impressive than it might sound.
Sonics Finish First on the Run
End First Quarter: Chicago 27, Sonics 25
It's an 11-4 run for the Sonics at the end of the first quarter, as the bench came in and really picked up the energy level. Kevin Durant has been very active so far tonight. Officially, he's got seven points, three rebounds and two steals - but I swear I saw at least four boards. The Sonics ended the first quarter with seven offensive boards, giving them 26 in the last five quarters.
Turnovers Hurting Sonics
First Quarter: Chicago 25, Sonics 17
The Sonics have generally done a good job of taking care of the basketball recently, but the Bulls love to pressure on the perimeter and have forced five Sonics turnovers, turning them into transition opportunities at the other end. Chicago has played a relatively quick pace en route to 61.1% shooting. Joe Smith has stayed hot for Chicago - he's got eight points and six rebounds and we're not even through the first quarter.
As the Sonics continue celebrating Black History Month, Delonte West was featured tonight on SonicsVision. West discussed how the vision of Dr. martin Luther King, Jr. is alive in the Sonics locker room and around the NBA as players from various different backgrounds come together and work towards a common goal on the basketball court.
Bulls Take Early Lead
First Quarter: Chicago 12, Sonics 5
With Tyrus Thomas a scratch tonight because of a sprained foot, the Bulls moved veteran Joe Smith back into their starting lineup. The Sonics might be wishing they were going up against Thomas instead. Smith has six points and four rebounds in the first four-plus minutes as the Bulls have gotten off to an early 12-5 lead. Looking for better execution, P.J. Carlesimo takes an early timeout.
Tonight is Nick Collison Bobblehead Night at KeyArena, with the first 10,000 fans receiving Collison bobbleheads. Congrats to Erik, who won the golden bobblehead, giving him a Nick Collison jersey, courtside seats and a chance to meet Nick after the game - in addition, of course, to the gold bobblehead itself, which is one of a kind. We've still got two more bobblehead nights remaining, so be here Feb. 19 for Kevin Durant Bobblehead Night and March 4 for Chris Wilcox Bobblehead Night. Click here for more on purchasing tickets to those games.
Szczerbiak Returns
Pregame
The Sonics will have backup swingman Wally Szczerbiak back in the lineup tonight after Szczerbiak missed the team's last two games with a sprained left ankle. Szczerbiak told Head Coach P.J. Carlesimo that he could go for 10-15 minutes on Saturday if needed, but Carlesimo was able to get Szczerbiak another two days of rest (including yesterday, a day off for the Sonics).
"He said he feels really good - the ankle," Carlesimo shared. "Not having practiced, there might be a little rust. We'll see what happens."
Rookie forward Jeff Green remains out with a sprained ankle of his own (right). Damien Wilkins will make his second straight start in Green's absence. Green is day-to-day and could return Wednesday, when the Sonics play at Sacramento.
"It's a recurring injury," Green explained. "I sprained it at the start of the season. It just got worse the last couple of days. I'm taking this time off now to get healthy."
Signing On
Pregame
After playing seven games over the last 13 days at KeyArena, the Sonics wrap up their seven-game homestand tonight against the Chicago Bulls. This season hasn't gone the way the Bulls hoped it would, but Chicago is still in the playoff picture in the Eastern Conference and has enough talent to throw a scare into the conference's top teams - the Bulls are 3-0 this season against Central-leading Detroit. The Sonics will try to continue Chicago's slow start of a current road trip while continuing a hot streak of their own. Stay with us all night long for the latest from KeyArena.
