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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Sonics Hit Final Stretch

From Wire Reports

Just because the path to repeating as Pacific Division champs has been simplified, it hardly makes the final week of the regular season any easier for the Seattle SuperSonics.

The path is filled with obstacles.

If the Sonics win these five games, they win the division and capture the second seed in the Western Conference. That means, very likely, a first-round matchup with the Portland Trail Blazers.

But to get to that point, the Sonics (55-22) play those same Blazers tonight at 7 in the Tacoma Dome. Then they are at the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday, home against the Houston Rockets on Thursday, at Sacramento on Friday, and then conclude the regular season - perhaps to decide the division title - in Phoenix against the Suns on Sunday.

Should they concede the crown to the Suns, the Sonics will be the fourth seed, facing the Lakers or the Rockets in the first round.

“It’s going to be tough - tough this whole week,” Sonics co-captain Nate McMillan said. “It’s the toughest week all season when you consider what’s on the line here.”

The Sonics know they had a chance to open some breathing room between themselves and the Suns last Tuesday in the Tacoma Dome, but Phoenix emerged with a 96-90 victory, forcing Seattle to win the rest of its games.

The Sonics have won 17 of their last 21 games, but looming in the playoffs are some tough Western Conference teams such as the Suns, the San Antonio Spurs, the Utah Jazz and the Lakers. The Sonics have yet to beat the Lakers in four meetings this season, while going 4-8 against the other three teams. Since Nov. 30, they are 0-11 against those four teams. For whatever reason, the Sonics are 28-5 against the rest of the conference after a 23-5 trip through the Eastern Conference.

That’s 51-10 against the NBA, except for their top four Western Conference foes.