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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME FLOW
SEATTLE (AP) -- With Gary Payton and Ruben Patterson out, the
Seattle SuperSonics almost fell to the struggling Chicago Bulls.
|  | | Patrick Ewing muscles down one of his 10 rebounds for the Sonics. Ewing also had 14 points. |
Rashard Lewis and Desmond Mason hit four free throws in the
final 20 seconds to seal Seattle's 97-91 victory over Chicago and
hand the Bulls their 13th consecutive loss on Thursday night.
Seattle was without Patterson, serving the first game of a three-game suspension, and Payton, who left the game in the second quarter after aggravating an abdominal strain that kept him on the bench almost all of the first quarter.
"You're talking about 30 points there and two of your best
defenders," in Patterson and Payton," Sonics coach Nate McMillan
said. "That's a lot that you have to overcome."
The Bulls (6-39) trailed by as many as 13 midway through the
third quarter before pulling within two and hanging close the rest
of the way. They were down 92-91 with just 47 seconds to go before Emanual Davis hit a free throw, Chicago's Ron Mercer missed a
pullup 15-footer and two Brad Miller fouls sent Lewis and Mason to
the line.
"We fought hard to get back, cut it down to one, and couldn't finish at the end," Mercer said. "It has been the same story for the last 10 or 12 ballgames. We just can't finish at the end."
The 13th straight loss tied a Chicago franchise worst set
Oct.-Dec. 1976.
"We've had great opportunities every game," Bulls coach Tim Floyd said. "Needless to say, it's been frustrating. I admire our guys for continuing to fight and continuing to put themselves in a position to win."
Mercer scored 30 points, including 22 in the second half, for
the Bulls. Elton Brand scored all 19 of his points in the second
half, and Miller added 10 rebounds.
Vin Baker led Seattle with 22 points, including 10-for-10 from
the free-throw line. Davis added 19 and Brent Barry packaged 17
points and 11 assists.
Patterson was serving the first of a three-game suspension after
pleading guilty this week to a misdemeanor assault charge in
Cleveland for breaking a man's jaw.
Mason arrived late after attending a memorial service for
Oklahoma State basketball players and staff who died in a weekend
plane crash. He did not see action until the fourth quarter, when
he played five minutes and had two points and two steals.
Payton, who entered the game with averaging a team-best 23.2 points, was slowed in December and early January by a groin injury. His nine minutes was his lowest total this season.
Payton appeared to be walking normally after the game. He declined to be interviewed.
"He's very sore," McMillan said. "X-rays tonight showed negative, but I think he's going to do an MRI tomorrow to get a closer look."
"It's going to be tough," if Payton and Patterson both miss games, Davis said. "But teams are going to have to prepare differently for us also. If Gary's out, other guys are going to be taking those shots. You don't know where it's going to come from now."
Seattle went on a 10-0 run, including 3-pointers by Barry and
Davis, to close the first half leading 52-39. Baker had 15 in the
half.
Game notes
Seattle native Jamal Crawford was cheered by the Key Arena
crowd when he entered in the first quarter, and when he scored his
first points on a mid-range jumper in the second. Crawford played
at Rainier Beach High School in Seattle. A crowd of at least 100
waited for him in the stands after the game. ... On Patterson's
suspension, Sonics coach Nate McMillan said, "It's a surprise to
me that he's suspended for so long, but I think the league is
trying to send a message to these guys about their behavior."
McMillan said Patterson had been questionable anyway for the Bulls
game because of an ankle injury. ... Payton, 32, has missed only
three regular-season games in his 834-game career: one in 1992
because of a chest contusion, and two because of suspensions in
1996 and in January. The Jan. 19 suspension was for a locker-room
shouting match with McMillan.
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ALSO SEE
NBA Scoreboard
Chicago Clubhouse
Seattle Clubhouse
NBA reacts to Patterson's conviction with three-game suspension
Sonics' Payton to miss Jazz game Saturday
RECAPS
Minnesota 90
Cleveland 81
Dallas 95
Miami 91
Philadelphia 87
New York 80
LA Clippers 101
Houston 84
Utah 87
Charlotte 76
Portland 100
Phoenix 92
Seattle 97
Chicago 91
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