SEATTLE — Before Friday’s game, the fans rose to salute one of the greatest players in Seattle SuperSonics history. Gary Payton, a nine-time NBA All-Star in 12 1/2Sonics seasons, was back at KeyArena for the first time in nearly a year and the ovation he received during introductions was long, warm and wonderful.
By game’s end, though, the sellout crowd of 17,072 was heaping cheers on the man acquired in the Feb. 20, 2003, trade for Payton — Seattle guard Ray Allen.
Allen poured in a game-high 35 points, including 14 in the decisive fourth quarter and all of his team’s five points in the final 36 seconds, to lift the Sonics to a rousing 111-109 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers. It was Seattle’s third win in a row and the fifth in the last six games, which roughly coincides with Allen’s return after missing the season’s first 25 games due to arthroscopic ankle surgery.
After all the hoopla surrounding Payton’s return, "I know Ray wanted to prove (the trade) wasn’t a bad deal," Sonics coach Nate McMillan said. "I know he respects Gary, but deep down inside he had this game marked on his calendar, too."
The outcome hinged on final shots by Allen and LA’s Kobe Bryant, two of the NBA’s best shooting guards who waged a classic duel down the stretch, including back-to-back 3-point goals inside the last half-minute that left the score knotted 109-109. After a timeout the Sonics spread the court for Allen, and his spinning move into the lane led to a double-pump lay-in try amidst three Lakers defenders, with the arching shot dropping cleanly through the net with 5.8 seconds to play.
"That was just an unbelievable finish by him," McMillan said.
Seattle guard Brent Barry called Allen’s shot "an unbelievable drive and a double-clutch lay-in that falls through the net somehow. It was just awesome. … Ray was stepping up and showing Seattle that we have a pretty good player here, too."
Los Angeles took a timeout of its own and, to no one’s surprise, set up Bryant for a final try. Under guard of Allen, he launched a 3-point shot from near the top of the key that sailed straight at the basket, but caught the front of the rim and bounced away, preserving Seattle’s win.
The game, Barry said, was "great players at the end of the game doing what they get paid to do. And you just hope your ball goes in last. Everybody, including players, hold their breaths when Kobe goes up for their last shot. You’ve seen him do it so many times in such a young career, make shots like that."
The roaring crowd, both on Allen’s lay-in and when Bryant’s last-second try kicked off the rim, "was as loud as I’ve heard it at KeyArena," Seattle forward Rashard Lewis said. "That was a playoff atmosphere."
It was a back-and-forth affair worthy of the very best in the all-time Sonics-Lakers series. There were 25 ties and 19 lead changes, with the biggest lead by either team being a 98-89 Seattle margin with eight minutes remaining in the fourth period.
The biggest cheers for Payton came when the teams were introduced before the game. He was the first LA player to be announced, and as he trotted onto the court the entire arena came to its feet — among them, Seattle owner Howard Schultz, seated at midcourt — for a standing ovation that lasted well over one minute. Payton stood stone-faced, but three times lifted a hand of gratitude to the spectators.
"It was real nice," said Payton, who finished with a season-high 24 points to go with five assists and five rebounds. "The fans really appreciated what I’ve done here and it was a memorable moment for me. I love Seattle. I was here for 12 years, so it was really great to see that they appreciated me."
Payton, who had not spoken to McMillan since the trade, walked to the Seattle bench just before tipoff to exchange hugs with his friend and former teammate, and with Sonics assistant coaches Dwane Casey and Bob Weiss.
"It was nice to finally talk to him," McMillan said. "I told him to focus his attention on the championship. ‘You’ve got an opportunity, now go get it.’ I’m happy for him. He’s in a situation to get a ring. That would somewhat complete his career. That’s a good team and I wish him well."
Los Angeles was without forward Karl Malone, who is on the injured list with a sprained knee. Also, center Shaquille O’Neal left the game with a strained right calf midway through the second quarter, not to return, and he would finish with six points, five rebounds and four turnovers in 14 minutes.
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