Opponent: Philadelphia 76ers
When: 7 p.m.
Where: KeyArena, Seattle
TV: KONG (Ch. 6/16)
Radio: KJR (950 AM)
Probable starters: For Seattle – forwards Vin Baker (6 feet, 11 inches) and Rashard Lewis (6-10), center Art Long (6-9), guards Brent Barry (6-6) and Gary Payton (6-4). For Philadelphia – forwards Derrick Coleman (6-10) and Matt Harpring (6-7), center Dikembe Mutombo (7-2), guards Allen Iverson (6-0) and Eric Snow (6-3).
Scouting report: For all the Allen Iverson fanfare, what distinguishes this Philadelphia team is its defensive and rebounding prowess. The 76ers lead the NBA in opponents’ scoring (87.5) and opponents’ 3-point percentage (29.3), and are second in opponents’ field goal percentage (41.9).
“They are aggressive on the ball and they basically have defenders at every position,” said Seattle coach Nate McMillan. “They are a solid defensive team. They win games off their defense.”
Also, Philadelphia is third among NBA teams in rebounds (45.35), and fifth in both offensive (13.45) and defensive rebounds (31.90).
Iverson leads the Sixers in scoring (28.5), assists (6.0) and steals (2.50), and his scoring and steals averages are NBA bests. Center Dikembe Mutombo is tops for Philadelphia in rebounds (11.8) and blocked shots (2.87).
The Sonics are probably catching Philadelphia at the best possible time. Tonight’s game will be the last of a rugged six-game, 12-day road trip for the Sixers that began in Los Angeles against the Lakers on Christmas Day. In the last few weeks, Seattle has hosted three other Eastern Conference teams at the end of long West Coast road trips and the Sonics won each time in a rout – 97-83 vs. Milwaukee on Dec. 2, 114-91 vs. Orlando on Dec. 16, and 117-89 vs. Detroit on Dec. 22.
Injury update: The Sonics had hoped to have injured centers Jerome James and Calvin Booth in uniform for tonight’s game. As it turns out, they will have just one.
James, Seattle’s tallest player at 7 feet 1 inch, practiced with the team on Thursday and is expected to be activated today. James, who missed the past 20 games with a severely sprained right foot, will fill the roster vacancy created when the Sonics waived Antonio Harvey on Wednesday.
Booth, however, is experiencing ongoing pain in his injured right ankle. He has been given a walking boot, which he wore at Thursday’s workout, and is expected to miss another 2-4 weeks.
Booth has been walking and shooting at practice in recent days, “but that hasn’t seemed to work,” McMillan said. “Basically the doctors have decided to not do any activity on the ankle for the next several weeks and see how he responds to that.
“I know it’s tough for him to deal with,” McMillan added, “but these are things that happen in sports.”
Booth, who signed a six-year, $34 million offseason contract with the Sonics, has played sparingly this season after being injured in the team’s last exhibition game. He is averaging just 6.2 points and 3.6 rebounds in 15 games.
Spirited workout: After five days off since their last game, the Sonics are probably getting tired of seeing each other at practice. Thursday’s workout included a spirited scrimmage, with plenty of yapping between opposing players and at the officials.
“It’s definitely been like training camp the last few days,” Seattle’s Vin Baker said. “Guys want some new blood. Hopefully when Philadelphia comes in here, we can take it out on them.”
Will the five days off be a blessing or a bane?
“It’s all going to be hindsight,” Baker said. “If we win (tonight), everyone is going to say it’s because we had rest. If we lose, everyone is going to say the days off really did us no good.”
Rich Myhre
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