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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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 GAME FLOW
MILWAUKEE (AP) -- The game's first 46 minutes were just an
opening act for Gary Payton's show-stopping performance.
Payton scored seven straight points and forced an important
turnover in the final 1:57 as the Seattle SuperSonics held off
Milwaukee for a 104-96 win, their seventh straight.
|  | | Gary Payton slashed and dashed his way to 22 points, including 13 in the fourth quarter. |
Former Milwaukee star Vin Baker led the Sonics with 31 points, but he faded in the second half. Payton added 22 points, 10
rebounds and seven assists, but the star point guard only came to
life when the Bucks battled back to tie the game at 92.
"They made it real hairy there at the end, but it gave Gary a
chance to show off a little bit," Seattle coach Paul Westphal
said. "What a clutch exhibition by Gary. It was neat to see him
just say, 'OK, we're going to win this game."'
Baker carried the Sonics through the first half with 26 points,
but Payton made all the big plays late to seal Seattle's sixth
straight road win.
"I wasn't playing well in the first three quarters, but I just
had to keep confidence in my shot and try harder on defense,"
Payton said.
The streaking Sonics have won all six of their road games in
January, with three coming in difficult buildings. Seattle beat the
Lakers, the Spurs and the Bucks, who had won seven of their last
eight home games.
George Karl lost to the Sonics for the first time since being
fired by the team in 1998. Karl had a 384-150 record in Seattle
from 1992-98 before he was replaced by Westphal.
"This is a different team than the one I coached," Karl said.
"The only guys left are Gary and Vin, and they were the guys that
killed us tonight. I don't know what that says about how they feel
about me."
Seattle held a small lead all night until the Bucks made a 13-3
run late in the fourth quarter. Allen's 3-pointer made it 92-88
with 2:58 left, and Allen hit Tim Thomas for an alley-oop dunk 33
seconds later.
Thomas' free throws tied the game at 92, the first tie since the
opening minute. Seattle was up 96-95 when Payton hit a 3-pointer
that beat the shot clock with 52 seconds to play.
Payton then herded Allen into the corner and forced him to make a bad pass, which was intercepted. Brent Barry's 3-pointer put the game away.
"He's having one of the most amazing years I've ever seen," Westphal said of Payton. "Whatever a team needs, he'll provide it."
Baker returned to the city where he made three All-Star teams
during the first four years of his career. He had 13 points in each
of the first two quarters, mostly on open jumpers. The notoriously
poor free-throw shooter also hit his first 10 attempts and finished
11-of-12.
Baker's performance erased bad memories from his last trip back
to Milwaukee. Last year, Baker scored 15 points and was benched by
Westphal during one of many losses in the Sonics' disastrous 1999
season.
"That was an entirely different team we had, but it still felt
bad to play that badly when I came back," Baker said. "I thought
about last year and all the negative feelings I had, but I'm a
different player now, and this is a different team."
Glenn Robinson, who had just four points in the first half, came back with 12 in the third quarter as the Bucks stayed close. But
Milwaukee showed the fatigue of its fourth game in six nights,
frequently standing around on defense and allowing the Sonics
uncontested shots.
"We're tired, but we shouldn't give a defensive effort like
that," Robinson said. "We expect more, but now we've got some
time off (five days)."
Allen was 4-of-15 from the field. He had 10 points -- 11 below
his average -- and 13 assists. Sam Cassell had 19 points and eight
assists, but was shut down by Payton on defense. Robinson led the
Bucks with 21.
Game notes
Ruben Patterson, who had 16 points for Seattle, leaped over Scott Williams' back and slammed home a rebound in the third quarter, drawing ooohs from the crowd and the ire of Williams, who
didn't appreciate Patterson's staredown after the play. ... In the
first quarter, referee Luis Grillo was being taunted by a fan who
called him "No. 8," which Grillo wears on his uniform. Grillo
turned around and shouted, "Call me Luis." ... Darvin Ham made his home debut with the Bucks. Ham was activated off the team's
injured list when Dale Ellis was traded to Charlotte on Wednesday. Ham was scoreless in 15 minutes of play Thursday night.
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ALSO SEE
NBA Scoreboard
Seattle Clubhouse
Milwaukee Clubhouse
RECAPS
Charlotte 109
Philadelphia 100
New Jersey 122
Detroit 120
Seattle 104
Milwaukee 96
Houston 122
Denver 115
Utah 94
Vancouver 89
Sacramento 111
Orlando 103
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