RECAP | BOX SCORE | GAME FLOW

SEATTLE (AP) -- No need for the Seattle SuperSonics to bicker or fight after this one.

Beating a team with a winning record for the first time in over a month, the Sonics defeated the Sacramento Kings 123-108 Friday night to end a five-game home court losing streak and clinch a playoff spot.

	The Sonics' Ruben Patterson gets past Corliss Williamson for a dunk.

Gary Payton, who had a locker room fight with teammate Vernon Maxwell earlier this week, had 35 points and 15 assists. Vin Baker, criticized recently for his soft play, responded with a strong effort.

Payton's play spoke volumes, which was a good thing since he waved off the media after the game. Neither Sonics coach Paul Westphal nor any of the players addressed their internal squabbling, but it was clear the victory took the edge off some of their problems.

"Sometimes we get a little off track," Westphal said. "Gary was sensational and we had many good performances."

Baker, who signed an $87 million contract during the offseason, was more than a 6-foot-11 jump shooter against the Kings. He grabbed 14 rebounds, blocked a shot and took two charges.

"I felt it was important for me to stress the basics -- rebounding and defending -- because those are the things I need to do for us to win," Baker said.

The Sonics (41-31) moved within a half-game of the Kings (41-30) in the race for seventh spot in the Western Conference standings. The Sonics scored a season-high 69 points in the first half in rolling to a 20-point lead. The Kings got no closer than 15 during the second half.

Rashard Lewis came off the bench and added 20 points and eight rebounds. He said Westphal's emotional outburst during a recent practice was a tonic the team needed.

"Coach (Westphal) screamed at us in practice and told us we needed to come out fast," Lewis said. "It was good that Coach yelled at us because it was something we needed."

Predrag Stojakovic led the Kings with 23 points. Webber had 22 points, 12 rebounds and six assists.

The Sonics beat the Kings for the first time in three meetings this season. The teams play for the final time in the regular season April 18 in Sacramento -- a game that could decide the seventh and eight spots.

The Sonics kept the Kings on their heels with an uptempo game led by Payton, Horace Grant and Ruben Patterson.

Grant's two free throws gave Seattle its biggest lead at 87-63 with 6:58 left in the third quarter.

"It was a great win," Grant said. "We got off that skid and got our confidence back."

Seattle's transition game was keyed by their 47-37 rebounding advantage. The Sonics also had 28 fast-break points to 14 for the Kings.

Payton had 22 points and 13 assists in the first half as the Sonics raced to a 69-49 halftime lead. After being dominated inside by the New York Knicks on Wednesday, the Sonics outscored the Kings 40-26 in the paint during the opening half and 62-42 overall.

The Sonics may have played their most complete quarter of the season in the first quarter, racing to a 36-22 lead. Payton led the Sonics with 13 points and six assists.

Game notes
The Kings placed Jon Barry on the injured list with an irritated cervical nerve in his neck and activated Bill Wennington, who had missed the previous five games with a right calf strain. ... Baker had seven rebounds and a blocked shot in the first half though he did not score. ...The Kings play nine teams with a .500 or better record the rest of the season.