Disarming For Rockets Supersonics Push Champions To Edge

Call it the plummet at the Summit. The Houston Rockets’ reign isn’t over yet and the Reign Man isn’t taking over yet, but the Seattle SuperSonics are in position now to not only win this series but sweep it.

The Sonics took a 3-0 lead in the Western Conference semifinals with a 115-112 victory Friday night and can dethrone the two-time NBA champions with a win in Game 4 here Sunday afternoon.

Here’s the best part: The Sonics are almost a lock to win this series and advance to the Western Conference finals, because no team has ever rallied from a 3-0 deficit.

But Detlef Schrempf, one of many Sonics stars, had a cautionary note for fans back home. Have the party hats ready, but don’t put them on just yet.

“No No. 8 seed ever beat a No. 1 seed until we came around,” Schrempf said, referring to Denver’s breakthrough two years ago against the Sonics. “We don’t have the mind to relax anymore. But it will be a long battle back for them to win four in a row.”

The Sonics appeared to have sealed the win when Schrempf sank two free throws to produce a 112-105 lead with 52.6 seconds left. But the Rockets stayed with it, assisted by three missed free throws by the Sonics.

The basketball gods who have blessed the Rockets for the past two years stayed with them when Mario Elie hit a 28-foot 3 that had re-entry burns by the time it swished through the nets. He had to scrape the ceiling with it because Schrempf was lunging at him.

That brought the Rockets within 113-112 with 11.4 seconds left, but Gary Payton, who blew a pair of free throws 30 seconds earlier, made a couple with 10.2 seconds remaining.

Elie tried one more 3 from the same spot with Schrempf in his face again, but this time the gods were wearing the green jerseys. Elie and the Rockets came up short, and Sam Perkins secured the clinching rebound.

Appropriately, because they sparked the Sonics’ early recovery and kept them in front late, Schrempf and Payton shared scoring honors with 28 apiece. Shawn Kemp was a complementary force inside, overcoming a poor shooting night with 21 points, 18 rebounds and 9 of 10 free throws. The Sonics also got help from the bench with Perkins supplying 17 points and Vince Askew 11.

Each had a role in the Sonics’ 12th straight victory over Houston. No. 13 could be the unluckiest of all because it could end Houston’s season.

This was another one of those wins that told a lot about the Sonics and their character. Returning home, the Rockets were expected to be enthusiastic and hungry. Early on, they were with Kenny Smith gunning 3s and helping Houston, which made 11 of its first 13 shots, build a 16-point lead. But the Sonics did not stagger.

“We couldn’t believe they were shooting like that,” Askew said. “We were able to withstand what they had.”

Said Schrempf: “It was a great win, especially the way they came out in the first quarter. Then we got energy, and they got tired. Being down, we could have figured it was not our night and we’ll get them next game. But we hung in there and got it together.”

Which is in keeping with the Sonics’ theme this season - coming together and staying together.

The Sonics did not catch the Rockets until the third quarter. But when they did, the Sonics went by like the guy in the passing lane who blows off your doors. Causing two turnovers by Hakeem Olajuwon, in another continuing trend, the Sonics went fastbreaking in front 90-82 as Payton threw one down over Robert Horry with authority.

The Rockets did counterpunch, but the blows turned feeble in the fourth quarter.

The Rockets can’t figure out how to deal with the Sonics defense, particularly Olajuwon, who again was befuddled after hitting all five of his shots in the first half. He finished with seven turnovers after making more mistakes than baskets in the fourth quarter.

He had the ball poked away by Perkins, dribbled out of bounds, and had a pass picked off by Kemp. He also missed a critical hook shot with 2 minutes to go.

The Rockets played like the Sonics did at times against Sacramento, hesitant and unsure of themselves. The Sonics got rid of that first-round jinx and are playing freely now. The Rockets are clearly burdened by their losing streak against the Sonics. Their shaky play confirms as much. Schrempf figures they’re due. But the Sonics ignore those percentages.

“Everybody is saying, ‘They’re going to win, they’re going to win,”’ Schrempf said. “They haven’t. And we haven’t bought into that thinking.”

Said Askew: “You’ve got to (feel the pressure) if you’re down 3-0 with four more games and two in Seattle.”

Nevertheless, Askew was asked if he was still worried.

“Are we worried?” he replied. “You should be asking them that. We’re not worried.”

SuperSonics 115, Rockets 112

FG FT Reb SEATTLE Min M-A M-A O-T A PF Pts Schrempf 38 10-15 7-8 0-5 5 4 28 Kemp 41 6-19 9-10 8-18 3 3 21 Johnson 12 0-3 0-0 1-1 0 0 0 Hawkins 28 5-8 0-0 0-4 3 2 10 Payton 44 12-19 2-4 1-1 8 1 28 McMillan 23 0-1 0-0 1-2 2 1 0 Perkins 33 5-8 5-6 0-4 2 3 17 Askew 18 3-5 4-6 1-3 3 5 11 Brickowski 3 0-0 0-0 0-0 2 3 0 Totals 240 41-78 27-34 12-38 28 22 115

Percentages: FG .526, FT .794.

3-Point Goals: 6-13, .462 (Perkins 2-3, Payton 2-4, Schrempf 1-2, Askew 1-2, Hawkins 0-2).

Team Rebounds: 10.

Blocked shots: 4 (Schrempf, Kemp, Johnson, Askew). Turnovers: 14 (Kemp 6, Payton 4, Schrempf 2, Hawkins, McMillan).

Steals: 10 (Schrempf 3, Kemp 2, Perkins 2, Hawkins, McMillan, Askew).

Technical fouls: Illegal defense, 1:13 third.

Flagrant fouls: Schrempf, 1:11 second.

Illegal defense: 1.

FG FT Reb HOUSTON Min M-A M-A O-T A PF Pts Horry 34 3-8 0-0 1-5 0 5 7 Brown 27 5-8 1-2 1-5 1 2 11 Olajuwon 46 7-12 10-11 2-13 9 3 24 Drexler 37 10-21 5-6 1-3 2 5 28 Smith 48 8-15 6-6 2-4 11 5 27 Bryant 15 0-1 0-0 1-3 1 1 0 Elie 23 4-10 3-3 0-0 0 5 13 Cassell 10 0-4 2-2 0-1 1 1 2 Totals 240 37-79 27-30 8-34 25 27 112

Percentages: FG .468, FT .900.

3-Point Goals: 11-27, .407 (Smith 5-10, Drexler 3-8, Elie 2-4, Horry 1-4, Cassell 0-1).

Team Rebounds: 7.

Blocked shots: 6 (Olajuwon 3, Horry 2, Elie).

Turnovers: 16 (Olajuwon 7, Horry 3, Brown 2, Smith 2, Cassell 2).

Steals: 8 (Horry 2, Olajuwon 2, Drexler 2, Smith 2).

Technical fouls: None.

Illegal defense: None.

Seattle 28 34 28 25 - 115 Houston 37 29 18 28 - 112 A-16,285 (16,285). T-2:27.

MEMO: Changed from the Idaho edition.