SEATTLE – Leg weary and listless following their recent road trip, the Seattle SuperSonics were about as bad as they could be in the early minutes of Sunday afternoon’s game against the Milwaukee Bucks.
Down by 16 points after one period and hearing scattered boos from the hometown fans, Seattle’s Nate McMillan did what NBA coaches often do when they want to change a game’s momentum.
It’s called going small.
For most of the second quarter, McMillan used an undersized lineup of Luke Ridnour, Flip Murray, Richie Frahm, Reggie Evans and Rashard Lewis – three guards and two forwards – and that unit was the catalyst for a game-saving Sonics turnabout. Playing faster and spacing the floor with four shooters, plus the burly Evans in the middle, Seattle was able to rally nicely on its way to a 108-102 victory at KeyArena.
“We looked a little asleep early,” McMillan said. “But the fight came from our bench. We had some guys off the bench who … came in and gave us some life and were able to bail us out.”
“We just came with a lot of energy off the bench,” added Ridnour, speaking for himself and the other reserves. “Some nights guys are tired and (the subs) need to step up the energy level and get the game going again. That’s what we did and we were able to come back.”
In the pivotal second quarter, Murray and Frahm were particularly effective for the Sonics. Both played all 12 minutes, with Murray scoring 13 points on 4-for-7 shooting from the field (2-for-4 from the 3-point stripe) and three free throws, and Frahm adding eight points on 3-for-4 shooting (2-for-3 from the 3-point line) as the Sonics pulled within four points by halftime.
Playing in front of his college coach, Gonzaga’s Mark Few – still in town after Saturday’s KeyArena game against Missouri – Frahm finished with career highs of 17 points and 24 minutes. He made seven of his first nine shots, including three of his first five from the 3-point line.
“I have confidence in that guy, that he can shoot the ball,” McMillan said. “I know he’ll get himself open, and whenever he lets it go, I believe it’s going to go in. He hit some big shots for us.”
“I’m going to go out there and try to be aggressive and get open shots,” said Frahm, a rookie who was the last player to make Seattle’s roster. “That’s my game and that’s why I’m here. Tonight was just one of those nights where I got going early, got my confidence going and shots just kept coming my way. And I hit them.”
Back in the game, Seattle’s starters managed to forge a lead midway through the third quarter that stood the rest of the way, save for a brief Milwaukee flurry early in the final period. With the bench again playing most of the last 12 minutes, the Sonics eased ahead and kept the visitors at arm’s distance to the end.
Later, a relieved McMillan was willing to forgive his team’s many early sins, including a woeful defense that allowed the Bucks to make 15 of their initial 22 shots and score 39 first-quarter points, a high for one period for a Seattle opponent this season.
“We almost gave it away (in the opening minutes), but I thought we regrouped and got ourselves together,” he said. “We got aggressive and fought the rest of the way. I’m proud of the guys.”
The outcome spoiled the Seattle homecoming for ex-Sonics guard Desmond Mason, who was playing at KeyArena for the first time since his Feb. 20, 2003 trade to Milwaukee. Mason, playing at forward and matched against Rashard Lewis (his best friend with the Sonics), totaled 14 points, 10 rebounds and four assists, but also five turnovers in 41 minutes.
“It was good to see the guys again and be back in front of the fans,” said Mason, who was greeted warmly by the Seattle crowd. “It felt good even during warm-ups, hearing people scream and seeing the posters and the familiar faces, so it was definitely a good feeling. I had a good time, besides the loss.”
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