Sonic boom lowers on first-place Kings

Associated Press

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The Seattle Supersonics showed that the Sacramento Kings aren’t invincible at home.

Gary Payton scored 31 points and Rashard Lewis added 26 as the Supersonics ended the Kings’ 20-game home winning streak Sunday with a 126-116 victory.

For three quarters, the Sonics simply rolled over the Kings, whose only previous home loss was on Dec. 2 against Dallas, 120-114 in overtime. The Kings own the NBA’s best home record at 27-2, and were chasing the 1985-86 Boston Celtics’ NBA mark of 40-1 at home.

“I guess we don’t have to worry about 40-1 anymore,” Kings coach Rick Adelman said.

Rallying from a 25-point, third-quarter deficit, Sacramento cut the deficit to 120-116 on a dunk by Chris Webber with 1:21 left. But Payton responded with a running one-hander off the glass, a layup and two free throws. Payton also had 13 assists for the game.

“He’s the man. That’s why he’s an All-Star,” Kings guard Bobby Jackson said. “He played well at the end. He took over the game.”

The rout began early with the Sonics getting little resistance from the Kings defensively. Seattle made 19 of 24 shots in the second period and took a 47-27 lead.

Lewis scored 15 points, and Payton and Brent Barry each had 14 as the Sonics scored a season-high 73 first-half points and led by 23, the Kings biggest halftime deficit of the season.

“It was pretty simple,” Payton said. “We just shot the ball real well and it was just one of those nights.”

Barry had 18 points for the Sonics, who have won four straight road games. Desmond Mason scored 15 points, and Vladimir Radmanovic added 14 points and seven rebounds. Seattle’s 126 points were a season high, and the most allowed by Sacramento this season.

Webber scored a season-high 39 points and had 11 rebounds for the Kings, who have the league’s best overall record at 39-13. Peja Stojakovic had 20 points, Doug Christie had 19, Vlade Divac 11 and Mike Bibby added 10 points and 10 assists.

Trailing by 25 points late in the third quarter, the Kings made a 15-4 run, cutting the lead to 95-82 with 41 seconds remaining. But Radmanovic made a 3-pointer to give Seattle a 98-82 lead heading into the fourth quarter.

“That was a Sonic boom,” Christie said. “They came out ready to play. They made shots and their intensity was higher than ours was for three quarters.”