Sonics Update

Opponent: Minnesota Timberwolves

When: 5 p.m. Tuesday

Where: Target Center, Minneapolis

TV: KONG (Ch. 6/16)

Radio: KJR (950 AM)

Booth update: The Sonics were without center Calvin Booth for Sunday’s game, and the 6-foot-11 center may be missing for several more games, too.

Booth has never fully recovered from a severely sprained right ankle suffered in Seattle’s last exhibition game on Oct. 26, and tendinitis has set in. He started Friday’s game against the Los Angeles Lakers and played 13 minutes in the first half, then sat out the entire second half.

Before Sunday’s game, Seattle coach Nate McMillan said that Booth might be moved to the injured list, with a decision expected in the next day or two. If it happens, Booth would be required to miss a minimum of five games, probably starting with Tuesday’s game at Minnesota.

Booth has appeared in 11 of Seattle’s 19 games, and is averaging 7.1 points, 4.0 rebounds and 0.64 blocked shots in 20.3 minutes a game. His best outing was a 24-point effort against Dallas on Nov. 20.

If Booth is out for several games, it would hamper Seattle’s inside effectiveness. Backup center Jerome James, the team’s tallest player at 7-1, is already on the injured list with a sprained right foot. He is not expected to return for at least another week.

Booth was unavailable for comment before the game.

Familiar faces: There is always the feeling of a reunion when the Bucks come to town. Milwaukee coach George Karl, of course, coached the Sonics through 6 1/2outstanding seasons in the mid-1990s. Assistant coach Terry Stotts was on Karl’s Seattle staff, as was scout Mike McNieve. Ervin Johnson and Greg Foster played for the Sonics in recent years, and several former members of Seattle’s public relations staff also ended up in Milwaukee.

Free throw parade: Almost lost in the fallout of Friday’s dismal 107-92 loss to the Lakers was a near record-setting free throw effort by Seattle’s Desmond Mason. The second-year guard was 17-for-18 from the free throw line, setting career bests for free throws made and attempted.

By comparison, Gary Payton’s one-game career highs in 12 NBA seasons are 14 free throws made and 20 free throws attempted.

Seattle’s team record for free throws made in one game is 21, with the mark shared by Jack Sikma, Spencer Haywood and Lenny Wilkens. The record for free throw attempts is 27 by Haywood.

Rich Myhre