Mcmillan Helps Sonics Triumph Returning Veteran Hits Key Treys As Seattle Turns Back Portland

The Seattle SuperSonics got Nate McMillan back Wednesday night. They’re not sure if they’ve got him back for good.

“I’m taking it one day and one game at a time,” the oft-injured McMillan said after sinking three 3-pointers in the final quarter as the Sonics beat the new-look Portland Trail Blazers 101-95.

McMillan, who missed Seattle’s first 51 games after undergoing surgery to his right knee, contributed nine points in the fourth period when the Sonics pulled away to beat Portland for the third time this season.

Damon Stoudamire, starting his second game at point guard for the Blazers after being acquired in a trade from Toronto, had 14 points and 11 assists.

Seattle had five 3-pointers in the final quarter, one each by Sam Perkins and Dale Ellis.

McMillan, 34, didn’t know what to expect when he got back on the court for a game for the first time this season.

“I’ve been praying that this day would come,” said McMillan, a key player for the franchise in the mid-1990s who had seven assists and three steals. “Getting a chance to play with Dale Ellis again and come off those picks was a treat for both of us.”

McMillan played 23 minutes after being told by coach George Karl that he would play 10. He doesn’t know what to expect when he wakes up this morning.

“My knee’s a little sore, and I’ll talk with the coaches about Friday later,” he said.

“I just hope he can stay healthy,” said Seattle coach George Karl, a big McMillan fan. “He was almost like a little kid tonight. He was so bouncy. He was genuinely excited to play tonight.”

The Blazers sagged on Vin Baker, Seattle’s All-Star, and left McMillan wide open. They gambled and lost.

“We tried to take a chance and he sure made a difference with the 3s,” Portland coach Mike Dunleavy said. “Maybe some other guys who weren’t as mentally tough would not have made those shots in their first game back after being out.”

The Sonics played without starting small forward Detlef Schrempf, who missed the game with a sore neck. He was injured in practice Monday.

Isaiah Rider led the Blazers with 26 points on 11 for 23 shooting. For Seattle, Ellis had 19 points off the bench, Baker had 17 points and Gary Payton had 16 points and 12 assists.

Seattle’s bench outscored Portland’s reserves 43-16. The Sonics were 11 for 28 from 3-point range, including 5 for 8 in the final quarter, while Portland was 5 for 23 from behind the arc.

The Blazers, getting 13 rebounds from Jermaine O’Neal, outrebounded the Sonics 48-38.

Seattle ended Portland’s five-game winning streak.

SuperSonics 101, Trail Blazers 95

FG FT Reb PORTLAND Min M-A M-A O-T A PF Pts O’Neal 30 5-9 4-6 6-13 2 0 14 Wallace 29 6-8 0-0 1-1 2 2 12 Sabonis 40 6-11 1-1 1-1 4 2 13 Rider 33 11-23 2-3 2-3 1 5 26 Stoudamire 40 4-14 5-6 3-6 11 4 14 Askew 9 0-3 0-0 2-4 0 0 0 W.Williams 29 4-11 2-2 1-5 5 2 12 Grant 21 2-4 0-0 0-3 0 1 4 Brunson 8 0-1 0-0 0-0 0 1 0 Cato 1 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 Totals 240 38-84 14-18 16-36 25 17 95 Percentages: FG .452, FT .778.

3-Point Goals: 5-23, .217 (Rider 2-7, W.Williams 2-7, Stoudamire 1-6, Sabonis 0-2, Brunson 0-1).

Team Rebounds: 12 Blocked shots: 3 (Sabonis 2, Wallace).

Turnovers: 17 (O’Neal 4, Stoudamire 4, Rider 2, Askew 2, W.Williams 2, Brunson, Wallace, Sabonis).

Steals: 13 (Stoudamire 5, Rider 3, Grant 2, O’Neal, Wallace, Sabonis).

Technical fouls: Wallace 7:58, second, Rider 9:17, third, O’Neal, 2:00, third.

Illegal defense: None.

FG FT Reb SEATTLE Min M-A M-A O-T A PF Pts Baker 38 8-14 1-2 3-4 3 4 17 A.Williams 31 5-7 2-2 1-8 2 4 12 McIlvaine 12 1-1 0-0 1-4 0 4 2 Hawkins 25 3-8 3-3 1-2 3 2 11 Payton 43 7-15 0-0 0-4 12 2 16 Ellis 34 8-14 2-2 0-5 2 1 19 Perkins 24 4-9 0-0 0-3 2 2 10 McMillan 23 3-6 0-0 2-2 7 3 9 Anthony 10 2-2 0-0 0-0 0 0 5 Totals 240 41-76 8-9 8-32 31 22 101 Percentages: FG .539, FT .889.

3-Point Goals: 11-28, .393 (McMillan 3-5, Anthony 1-1, Perkins 2-6, Hawkins 2-6, Payton 2-7, Ellis 1-3).

Team Rebounds: 6 Blocked shots: 4 (A.Williams 3, Baker).

Turnovers: 22 (Payton 7, Baker 4, Williams 3, Hawkins 3, Ellis 2, McIlvaine, McMillan, Anthony).

Steals: 8 (McMillan 3, Perkins 2, Ellis, Hawkins, McIlvaine).

Technical fouls: None.

Illegal defense: 1.

Portland 24 17 34 20 - 95

Seattle 22 22 26 31 - 101

A-17,072 (17,072). T-2:11.