SEATTLE (AP) – Ruben Patterson and Seattle SuperSonics couldn't afford to lose, especially to the Houston Rockets.

Patterson scored 23 points, including the game-winning layup with 12.3 seconds left, as the SuperSonics beat the Rockets 93-90 Saturday night and kept their slim hopes for a postseason berth alive.

Seattle, 10th in the Western Conference standings, trails the Minnesota Timberwolves by 4½ games in the battle for the conference's final playoff spot. Houston is in ninth place.

"We needed to beat these guys," said Patterson. "They're in the ninth spot and we're trying to get to the eighth spot. It was a great win for us."

The Rockets lost their third straight and dropped 3½ games behind idle Minnesota.

"It's going to be real hard for us to do it now," Houston coach Rudy Tomjanovich said. "It's still mathematically possible, but it's going to be really hard."

Gary Payton added 21 points, Jelani McCoy 12, and Vin Baker 11 for the Sonics. Baker scored six points in the fourth quarter, including two jumpers in the final two minutes.

Patterson hit a runner in the lane to give Seattle a 91-90 lead. Patterson then deflected Steve Francis' jumper with less than five seconds remaining. Payton, who also had eight assists, grabbed the ball and passed to Patterson, who drove for a basket as time expired.

"I thought on that last offensive play to Ruben, he was determined to get to the basket or get fouled," Sonics coach Nate McMillan said. "We allowed the floor to be spaced and Ruben attacked the basket."

Francis hit two free throws to give Houston a 90-89 lead with 1:02 left, but missed a layup and jump shot in the final 30 seconds. The Rockets' leading scorer, averaging more than 20 points, finished with nine points on 3-for-12 shooting.

Reserve Walt Williams shot 5-for-7 from 3-point range and 9-for-15 from the field and led the Rockets with 23 points, including nine in the fourth quarter. Cuttino Mobley added 20 and Maurice Taylor 14.

Williams scored Houston's first six points of the fourth quarter. His 3-pointer with 7:28 left gave the Rockets their first lead of the game since a 13-12 advantage midway through the first quarter.

"We had our chances and some good shots," Williams said. "We just didn't make the play. This has definitely been a disappointing trip for us."

The Rockets, who lost to Sacramento and the Los Angeles Clippers, face Utah at home on Tuesday.

Game notes
Rockets center Hakeem Olajuwon, who has missed nine games because of a blood clot in his left leg, is scheduled to work out with the team on Monday. ... Seattle forward Rashard Lewis fell hard early in the second quarter. He bruised ribs, but returned to start the second half. ... Rockets guard Shandon Anderson aggravated his right foot in the first quarter and sat out the rest of the game.

Send this story to a friend

RECAPS
Cleveland 117
Denver 105

Dallas 103
Charlotte 100

Utah 119
Washington 93

Seattle 93
Houston 90

Golden State 103
Detroit 95