Sonics win fourth in a row

Associated Press

SEATTLE – Even as they lose players to injury, the Seattle SuperSonics keep winning games

Gary Payton scored with 34.9 seconds left and finished with 21 points as the Seattle SuperSonics beat the New Jersey Nets 96-90 on Saturday night.

The Sonics won their fourth straight game and dealt New Jersey its fourth straight road loss.

This week, the Sonics lost rookie Vladimir Radmanovic because of a sprained toe on his right foot, and guard Earl Watson to a separated shoulder. Vin Baker is still on the injured list.

No matter. The Sonics have won 11 of 13 and are a season-high nine games above .500.

Reserve Desmond Mason scored 21 points, and Rashard Lewis added 20.

Sonics coach Nate McMillan credited the contributions of his role players.

“They have this feeling of believing,” McMillan said. “The chemistry has been right and the guys are working together and playing good basketball.”

Brent Barry said the key to success has been the Sonics’ ability to play their roles.

“You don’t see Jerome James shooting 3s because Radmanovic is out,” Barry said. “Guys aren’t trying to do more than they are capable of and that’s all the coaching staff is asking.”

Keith Van Horn scored 21 points, and Kerry Kittles added 19 for the Nets. Jason Kidd finished with eight points and 10 assists for New Jersey.

A dunk by Van Horn gave the Nets a 90-89 lead with 1:05 left, but Seattle scored the final seven points of the game to seal the victory.

Rashard Lewis made two free throws with 1:02 left to give the Sonics a 91-90 lead.

After a miss by the Nets, Payton grabbed the rebound and beat Kidd on a baseline drive to give Seattle a 93-90 lead.

“I went quick with it, and I surprised him,” Payton said. “He was leaning and he couldn’t get to me and I went by him.”

Payton added a free throw and Mason scored on a dunk off a lob from Payton for final margin.

Kidd hit a 3-pointer to give the Nets an 86-84 lead. Kenyon Martin flung Mason to the floor while the ball was in the air and was whistled for a foul.

Mason made both free throws to tie the game at 86 with 2:50 remaining.

Jason Collins scored three points and the Nets closed the third quarter with an 8-2 run, tying the game at 70.

The Nets finished 9-for-16 from the line, while Seattle made 22 of 25 free throws.

Kidd said this game followed a pattern that has haunted the Nets on their road trip.

“We had good looks, good opportunities and didn’t get stops when we needed to,” Kidd said.

Nets coach Byron Scott said the Nets missed several chances to win games on the road trip.

“We blew opportunities to win games,” Scott said. “It was a bad trip.”

The Nets rallied from a 10-point first-half deficit. Van Horn scored on a tip-in as New Jersey closed within 49-48 by the break.

Van Horn had 15 points in the first half, and Kidd had eight assists.

New Jersey led just once in the first half, 44-43, on Aaron Williams’ dunk with 1:37 left.

The Sonics charged to a 19-9 lead after seven minutes.