Allen leads Sonics past Blazers

  • Rich Myhre / Herald Writer
  • Monday, January 5, 2004 9:00pm
  • Sports

SEATTLE – For three quarters, the Seattle SuperSonics were about as bad as they could be.

Fortunately, there is a fourth quarter in every NBA game. And on Monday night, those final 12 minutes were hugely important to the Sonics.

With one of their most remarkable comebacks in several seasons, Seattle erased an 18-point deficit after three periods, then broke the game open in overtime for a 119-108 victory over the disbelieving Portland Trail Blazers at KeyArena.

Guard Ray Allen led the way with his best scoring game since joining the Sonics late last season, tossing in 42 points, including 20 in the fourth quarter and another seven in overtime. In the final quarter and in OT, Allen was 10-for-14 from the field, including 5-for-8 from the 3-point stripe. He finished the night 16-for-27 for field goals, and 5-for-12 in 3-pointers.

“We needed a hero,” said Sonics coach Nate McMillan. “When Ray is on, he’s on, and he has basically been able to carry this team.

“It’s will,” he added. “I think you use that word with Ray Allen, similar to Michael Jordan. When a team needs someone to carry them on his back, he’s been able to do that single-handedly. You know he wants the shot. We were running plays for other options, but Ray is taking the shot and making big shots.”

The scoring output was Allen’s greatest as a Sonic, surpassing his previous high of 40 he had against the Los Angeles Clippers on March 1, 2003. He fell five points shy of his career high, which was 47 for the Milwaukee Bucks.

“I just wanted the ball to come to me,” said Allen, who outscored the entire Blazers team 20-17 in the final quarter.

In overtime, after the two teams traded early baskets, Allen dropped in a shot from left of the key to put the Sonics on top to stay. He followed moments later with a shot from near the same spot, but this a 3-point goal. Then, after a Portland miss, Allen drew a Blazers double-team and two quick passes found teammate under the basket for a dunk and a foul, and his free throw put Seattle on top 114-106.

Allen had one last field goal with just over two minutes left in OT and it gave the Sonics a 116-106 margin. It was also the point Portland pretty much waved the white flag.

What happened in the late minutes, though, was in dramatic contrast to the game’s first three periods. Then, the lethargic Sonics allowed Portland to build a double-digit lead that suggested a blowout. In particular, the Blazers were punishing the Seattle on the boards, building an astonishing 29-10 rebound margin – the Sonics had a mere two rebounds in the second quarter – with 11 offensive rebounds and 12 second-chance points before the intermission.

At one point, noisy boos filled the arena as Portland missed four shots, but gathered three successive offensive rebounds while the Sonics were standing flat-footed. Things got so bad, Allen even missed a breakaway two-handed dunk midway through the second quarter, spiking the ball off the back rim.

Despite a 64-45 halftime deficit, McMillan said he did not yell in the locker room. That happened on Sunday night, when the listless Sonics were humiliated in Sacramento, 130-99.

“I did a lot of screaming (Sunday) night,” he confessed. “Then I did a lot of talking during shootaround (Monday morning) and a lot of talking before the game. I couldn’t scream anymore. There comes a point in time when they just have to go out and play, and they did.

But in the early fourth quarter, after trading early baskets, Seattle went on a 25-7 scoring burst to pull into a 96-96 tie with 3:20 to play. In addition to Allen’s 20 points, Vlade Radmanovic contributed 11 in the quarter to help pull the Sonics even.

Both teams used perimeter shots to send the game to overtime. With 19 seconds to play, Allen curled to the top of the key and dropped in a 3-point goal to lift Seattle from a one-point deficit to a 104-102 lead.

Portland, without a timeout, worked the ball upcourt. Guard Damon Stoudamire had the last shot, a 22-footer from the right angle that swished with 1.1 seconds on the clock. Seattle had time for an in-bounds pass and a desperation shot, but the pass came to center Jerome James at midcourt. Not knowing how much time was left, he held the ball as time expired.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Sports

AquaSox outfielder Carson Jones gets settled in the batter's box during Everett's 4-3 loss to the Vancouver Canadians at Funko Field on July 6, 2025. (Joe Pohoryles / The Herald)
AquaSox show progress, but drop fifth straight to Canadians

Jones’ go-ahead, 3-run homer is spoiled in 4-3 loss to wrap up homestand.

Bryan Woo of the Seattle Mariners delivers a pitch in the first inning against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre on Friday, April 18, 2025, in Toronto. (Vaughn Ridley / Getty Images / Tribune News Services)
Three Mariners added to MLB All-Star Game

Major League Baseball announced today that Mariners outfielder Julio Rodríguez,… Continue reading

George Kirby (68) of the Seattle Mariners pitches in the third inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates at T-Mobile Park on Sunday, July 6, 2025, in Seattle. (Alika Jenne / Getty Images / Tribune News Services)
Pirates finish historically bad offensive series in Seattle

Similar to the first two games of the series, the… Continue reading

Seattle Storm forward Alysha Clark (32) and Aces guard Jewell Loyd (24) guard each other during a free throw in a WNBA basketball game between the Aces and the Seattle Storm at Michelob ULTRA Arena Friday, June 20, 2025, in Las Vegas. (Madeline Carter / Las Vegas Review-Journal / Tribune News Services)
Storm uses third-quarter thunderbolt to down Liberty

Rookie Dominique Malonga scored 11 and took over in the third quarter for Seattle.

AquaSox pitcher Jurrangelo Cijntje follows through on a pitch during Everett's 3-0 loss to the Vancouver Canadians at Funko Field on July 5, 2025. (Joe Pohoryles / The Herald)
AquaSox blanked by Vancouver as losing skid continues

Everett generates just three hits in 3-0 loss to the Canadians on Saturday.

AquaSox infielder Charlie Pagliarini starts to swing at a pitch that he would launch for a two-run home run in Everett's 9-2 loss to the Vancouver Canadians at Funko Field on July 4, 2025. (Joe Pohoryles / The Herald)
AquaSox lack spark in Independence Day loss to Vancouver

Everett draws eight walks, but has just two hits in 9-2 loss to the Canadians.

Kimberly Beard, a rising senior at King's, stands next to the results board after winning the girls hammer throw at the Nike Outdoor National Track & Field Championships in Eugene, Oregon on June 22, 2025. (Photo courtesy Donna Beard)
Beard, Tupua shine at Nike Outdoor Nationals

The rising seniors make their mark on a national stage amidst a busy summer schedule.

Everett AquaSox shortstop Colt Emerson catches the ball at second base for the first out in a double play during the Opening Day game against the Hillsboro Hops on Tuesday, April 8, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Emerson’s preparation finally paying off in Everett

The AquaSox shortstop is coming off his best month in High-A. Here’s how it came together:

The Seattle Mariners' Julio Rodríguez, right, claps after stealing second base during the first inning against the Kansas City Royals at T-Mobile Park on Thursday, July 3, 2025, in Seattle. (Alika Jenner / Getty Images / Tribune News Services)
Witt Jr. and Mariners’ bullpen both slide, KC wins series

The Kansas City Royals found a way against the Seattle Mariners on… Continue reading

Seattle Storm guard Skylar Diggins (4) tries to drive past Dallas Wings guard JJ Quinerly (11) during the first half of a WNBA basketball game at College Park Center on Monday, May 19, 2025, in Arlington, Texas. (Photo courtesy of the Seattle Storm)
Storm survive Dream on Diggins game-winner

Nneka Ogwumike and Erica Wheeler combined for 45 points in the 80-79 win.

Julius Miettinen listens to a coach during Kraken Development Camp on-ice session for forwards on Tuesday, July 1, 2025 in Seattle, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Pair of Silvertips check status at Kraken Development Camp

Julius Miettinen hopes to take strides back in Everett, while Kaden Hammell turns pro.

Randy Arozarena of the Seattle Mariners celebrates with the team trident after hitting a solo home run during the sixth inning against the Kansas City Royals at T-Mobile Park on Wednesday, July 2, 2025, in Seattle. (Alika Jenner / Getty Images / Tribune News Services)
Mariners overcome Perez to beat Royals

The Kansas City Royals found themselves in another close encounter against the… Continue reading

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.