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KeyArena flashes back to team's storied past

If Sunday night was the swan song, the Sonics sent their fans home in the appropriate way.

The spirited Sonics hardly played the part of the second-worst team in the NBA against the Mavericks. They scrapped. Tey fought. Earl Watson and Kevin Durant were magnificent on offense. Johan Petro and Nick Collison were nails on the boards. And the crowd loved it.

It was like old times in KeyArena. It was a playoff atmosphere. Gary Payton ignited the crowd. Fred Brown was there. Slick Watts was dressed in pink and gray.

It felt like the times before Clay Bennett, before he stuck the knife in the hearts of the franchise and its fans who loved it for 41 years. For one night, maybe one last night, magic hit the Key.

Is it enough to delay the exit? Or cancel it? Only time will tell. But last night produced more than a few memories of better times and better teams. It's been hard to find fun and joy in KeyArena this season.

Sunday night had a hint of sadness to it, but it also flashed back to the best moments of the last 41 years.