Luke Ridnour and Reggie Evans fight for the rebound with Chris Webber.
Jeff Reinking/NBAE/Getty
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 |
Sacramento |
20 |
19 |
21 |
18 |
78 |
 |
at Sonics |
33 |
20 |
23 |
32 |
108 |
|
The Sonics returned home for their first back-to-back of the season, hosting the Sacramento Kings (who had also played the night before) on ESPN. The travel situation seemed to bother the Kings much more than the Sonics, who started fast and led 33-20 after one quarter as
Ray Allen and
Rashard Lewis combined for 19 points. Thereafter, Sacramento was able to keep the two high-scorers in check (they scored just 19 over the next three quarters), but couldn't find enough of its own offense to come back. The Kings had just 60 points through three quarters and trailed by 16. The Sonics pushed the lead above 20 two and a half minutes into the final period and it got as high as 36 before the Sonics finished a 108-78 blowout. The Sonics got much more scoring balance, with
Luke Ridnour tying his career high with 17 points and three reserves scoring double-figures.
Danny Fortson netted his second double-double of the season with 16 points and 13 rebounds, while
Reggie Evans added 12 boards.
Brad Miller led the Kings with 17 points and nine rebounds.
Rashard Lewis led the Sonics with 24 points.
Rocky Widner/NBAE/Getty
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Sonics |
24 |
26 |
32 |
24 |
106 |
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at Sacramento |
26 |
23 |
26 |
26 |
101 |
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After being blown out by San Antonio, the Sonics traveled to Sacramento a night later to take on the Kings - who played without starters
Peja Stojakovic and
Chris Webber. Early on, it looked like another blowout, with the Kings taking a 20-9 lead, but the Sonics rallied to get within two at the half and took the lead to the locker room. The third quarter was wild, with Sacramento stars
Mike Bibby and Miller both picking up their fourth foul early in the period and five technical fouls whistled by the referees. The Sonics took advantage of the weakened Kings bench to lead by seven. Sacramento took a 97-94 lead with 3:49 to go, but the Sonics finished strong. Lewis capped a 6-0 run by scoring in the post with 41 seconds left, and Seattle hit its free throws to finish out the win. Lewis scored 24 points,
Ronald "Flip" Murray had 23 and the Sonics bench combined for 45 points. Bibby led Sacramento with 25 points, but Miller - the reigning Western Conference Player of the Week - was held to four on 1-for-6 shooting before fouling out.
Reggie Evans scores over Darius Songaila.
Jeff Reinking/NBAE/Getty
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Sacramento |
28 |
24 |
29 |
26 |
107 |
|
at Sonics |
26 |
28 |
23 |
38 |
115 |
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The Sacramento Kings arrived at KeyArena with plenty of motivation after dropping two games to the Sonics, dropping their previous game to Phoenix on a questionable no-call and seeing none of their players selected for the All-Star Game. But they also came without Miller, suspended for his reaction to said no-call. For the first three quarters, the game was tight, Allen (28 points in the first three quarters) leading the Sonics and
Cuttino Mobley (23 points) the Kings. Shortly after Fortson was ejected at the 7:09 mark following a confrontation with Webber, Webber scored on a hook to put Sacramento up 95-90. Lewis responded by scoring six points to give the Sonics the lead before the ball crossed halfcourt. A Webber score got the Kings within two with a minute to play, but
Nick Collison scored down low and the Kings missed twice. The Sonics hit their free throws for a 115-107 win. Allen finished with 34 points, but it was Lewis and
Antonio Daniels, who combined to score 26 in the fourth quarter, who were the heroes down the stretch. Stojakovic had 28 points and Webber 19, 9 rebounds and 9 assists for the Kings.
Peja Stojakovic led three Kings who scored at least 20.
Rocky Widner/NBAE/Getty
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|
Sonics |
24 |
33 |
24 |
20 |
101 |
|
at Sacramento |
27 |
38 |
32 |
25 |
122 |
|
The Sonics fell victim to an offensive onslaught in Sacramento on April 5. The Kings shot 58.8% from the field and 57.9% from 3-point range, running up 122 points and 38 in the second quarter. The Sonics found some offense of their own, all five starters scoring in double-figures, and were down only three after one quarter and eight at the break. But Sacramento kept pouring it on and the Sonics eventually fell way behind in a 122-101 loss. Six Kings scored double-figures, while three (Stojakovic - 24; Mobley - 21; and
Kenny Thomas - 20) topped 20. Allen scored 23 to lead the Sonics,
Damien Wilkins added 20 and Evans had a double-double of 11 points and 12 rebounds.
