By Rich Myhre
Herald Writer
SEATTLE — Weary and undermanned, the Seattle SuperSonics put forth a spirited effort in their Tuesday night showdown with the Phoenix Suns.
Alas, like several of their losses to date this season, the Sonics could only come close.
Back at KeyArena after a cross-country swing of five games, Seattle engaged the rival Suns in a tough, tight contest that was decided in the final seconds. Phoenix got two baskets from guard Penny Hardaway in the late going to erase a Seattle lead, then used a pair of Jake Tsakalidis free throws with 4.7 seconds left for a 92-91 victory.
The Sonics, who have now lost three straight over two seasons to the Suns at KeyArena, were given two chances to win in the last few seconds.
Guard Gary Payton had an open look from the top of the key, but his shot banged off the rim. Forward Desmond Mason gathered a long rebound and hurried up a twisting 10-foot turnaround from the left side that came off the backboard, then the rim. Forward Rashard Lewis tried for a desperation tip-in, but his attempt also missed, and was after the horn anyway.
The outcome was Seattle’s sixth loss in nine games, and in only one of those defeats — a 91-74 setback to Utah on Nov. 3 — were the Sonics decidedly outplayed. Which, they said to a man, is scant consolation.
"In all the games we lost, it’s been determined right at the end of the game," Lewis said. "And that’s how it was again tonight. We just have to get over the hump, and once we do we’ll start winning more games."
"We’re getting tired of saying we came close, that we were right there," added guard Brent Barry. "We need to get some wins."
This was a spirited tussle, played with great effort and emotion by both teams. Several players were knocked to the floor and one, Phoenix forward Tom Gugliotta, ended up leaving the game. Gugliotta took an elbow to the mouth while defending Seattle’s Mason in the low post midway through the third quarter and was left with a bloody tooth and a Grade 1 concussion. He remained in Seattle overnight and was to receive a CAT scan on his throat today, making him questionable for a home game against Orlando tonight.
Statistically, Tuesday’s contest was a toss-up. The Sonics shot 45 percent from the field, Phoenix shot 44.6. At the line, Seattle was 73.7 and the Suns were 72.7. Both teams had 41 rebounds and 10 steals. Phoenix was cited for 22 fouls, Seattle 21. There were 21 lead changes, 14 ties, and the biggest lead by either team was six points.
The loss kept new Seattle center Jerome James, who was pushed into the starting lineup because of injuries to Vin Baker and Calvin Booth, from being the hero. It was James who snagged the rebound of a Lewis miss with 15 seconds to play and finished with an emphatic dunk, giving Seattle a 91-90 lead.
What followed was the game’s most controversial play. After a timeout, Phoenix worked the ball to Hardaway on the left wing. As two Seattle defenders converged, Hardaway spotted Tsakalidis open on the left baseline. The 7-2 center went to the basket, only to have his shot knocked away by Lewis. Though it looked like possibly a clean block, official Marc Davis called Lewis for a foul.
"In my opinion, it was a good block," Lewis said. "I cleared my body from his body and just stretched my arms out and blocked his shot. I thought it was a good block, but obviously the refs thought otherwise."
"It looked like a good block from where I was at," agreed Sonics coach Nate McMillan. "It looked like all ball to me."
Still, McMillan added, the Sonics put themselves in a bad situation by being late on a defensive rotation. Had a defender from the off-side — Lewis most likely — rotated more quickly, McMillan said, Hardaway would have had no pass to Tsakalidis and Phoenix might not have had a shot.
"We’re putting ourselves in a position to win these games, but just don’t come up with the plays," McMillan said. "We’ve come close several times this season, but we’ve got to come up with a way to make the plays when the opportunity is there. We just have to get it done with the game on the line. Then you win these games."
Seattle, which played six of its first eight games on the road, is now in a stretch with eight of 11 at home.
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