Sonics lose, don’t look ready for playoffs

By Scott M. Johnson

Herald Writer

SEATTLE – One team showed up at KeyArena on Saturday night looking ready for the playoffs, and it was not the Seattle SuperSonics.

The Dallas Mavericks, playing without leading scorer Dirk Nowitzki, resembled the 1960s Boston Celtics while handing the Sonics a 116-99 drubbing. Seattle, meanwhile, looked something like the Rick Pitino-led Celtics.

The Sonics shot 35 percent from the field through the first three quarters, gave up a season-high 47 field goals, and allowed Dallas to go over the 115-point mark for the second time this season.

“We didn’t come out with the energy and the effort that we normally come out with,” Seattle coach Nate McMillan said afterward. “And that is the most disappointing thing. If you don’t, you’ll get your behind kicked. We were never in this game.”

The loss dropped the Sonics into a seventh-place tie with Utah in the Western Conference with two games to go.

Seattle has now lost four of its past five games, with its only win in the month of April coming last Monday in a playoff berth-clinching victory over the Los Angeles Clippers.

“The last couple weeks, the level of play has been raised, and we’re learning how to play it,” McMillan said. “Teams are positioning themselves for the playoffs, and they’re coming with it. Right now, we’re responding like a team that’s never been here before – which we haven’t. This is big-time basketball. We have to learn how to play in this situation.”

The Mavericks, fighting for the No. 2 playoff seed and a possible first-round matchup with the Sonics, used the same formula Saturday night that had been working for Seattle most of the season. Dallas overcame an injury to a key starter by getting a strong effort from its bench.

Lately, that hasn’t been the case for the Sonics. While Rashard Lewis has been on the mend, Seattle has been unable to settle on a lineup. The Sonics also have struggled to find the bench points that Desmond Mason provided before he moved into the starting lineup in Lewis’ place. Dallas’ bench outscored the Sonics’ bench 32-16 through three quarters Saturday, although a late run by Seattle’s reserves made the score somewhat respectable.

The Mavericks (55-24) used a 22-8 spurt in the second quarter to pull out to a 62-46 halftime lead. The onslaught continued in the third quarter, when Seattle trailed by as many as 33 points. While the Sonics came out of halftime missing nine of their first 14 shots, Dallas went on another run, this time 31-14, to pull ahead 88-56. Using a lineup that included Shammond Williams, Earl Watson, Ansu Sesay, Vladimir Radmanovic and Olumide Oyedeji, Seattle put together a small rally in the fourth quarter but never got closer than 16 points.

The Sonics’ depth took another hit with about 8 1/2minutes remaining when Vin Baker hobbled off the floor after injuring his left big toe. He did not return, but McMillan said the injury is not believed to be serious.

The Mavericks’ Michael Finley scored 17 of his game-high 29 points in the third quarter. Nick Van Exel added 22 off the bench, while Steve Nash had 10 points and nine assists in just 22 minutes of action due to a stomach virus. Dallas shot 56.5 percent from the field through the first three quarters before cooling off over the final 12 minutes.

The Sonics had four players in double figures, but only Gary Payton (21) had more than 12 points. Brent Barry shot 1-for-8 from the field.

Dallas has won the last three meetings between the two teams to take the season series 3-1. Although the Mavericks and Sonics could meet again in the postseason, Seattle (44-36) is in serious danger of dropping into the eight spot. That would mean a first-round series with the NBA’s best team, the Sacramento Kings.

“(The Mavericks) are in a do-or-die situation,” McMillan said, referring to the fact that Dallas is clinging to a 1/2-game lead over San Antonio for the Midwest Division title. “After the first quarter, we didn’t seem to want to be here. (Dallas) played the way you expect a team to play at this point in the season.”

Despite the loss, the Sonics aren’t panicking. Their victory over the Clippers six days ago not only clinched a playoff berth but also left the remaining games somewhat meaningless.

“(The loss) is tough, but it’s not as traumatic as everyone is making it out to be,” Sonics center Jerome James said. “Dallas is a high-powered team. If they’re making their shots, they’re tough to beat.”