Sonics Pull Fast One On Magic Payton Hits 26 As Seattle Hands Orlando Its First Home Loss

Seattle’s game plan was simple and effective - rotate plenty of players and run, run, run until Orlando’s home winning streak came to a screeching halt.

“I wanted the game to be as fast as we can make it … You can’t come in here and play any other way,” coach George Karl said after the SuperSonics raced to a 106-103 victory Thursday night, handing Orlando its first loss at home this season.

Gary Payton scored 26 points and Detlef Schrempf had 22 as the Sonics won their eighth consecutive road game and swept the season series against Orlando, which entered the game 21-0 at home.

Shawn Kemp added 17 points, including a pair of free throws with 1:30 remaining. Orlando’s Anfernee Hardaway had a chance to tie it with 2.1 seconds left, but he missed the first of two free throws and intentionally missed the second.

“If we’re going to lose at home, at least we lost to a good basketball team in a good game,” said Magic coach Brian Hill. “I can’t fault these guys. They played hard.”

Shaquille O’Neal had 39 points and 15 rebounds for Orlando, which played without Horace Grant (sore back) and Anthony Avent (in-grown toenail) and lost shooting guard Nick Anderson (aggravated wrist injury) during the game.

The Magic hit just 20 of 32 free throws and were 7 for 26 on 3-point attempts. The Sonics were 17 of 22 from the foul line and 9 of 17 on 3s.

Hardaway finished with 17 points and Jeff Turner, who missed much of last season with a career-threatening knee injury, started in place of Grant and responded with 16 points and nine rebounds - both season highs.

The biggest lead by either team in the final quarter was four. Payton’s third 3-pointer, Seattle’s ninth of the game, gave the Sonics a 101-97 lead. O’Neal scored on a dunk, then made two free throws before Kemp gave Seattle the lead for good on an uncontested layup.

“There was no pressure from the streak. We kept fighting, but they hit a lot of shots,” O’Neal said. “We were undermanned.”

Orlando, embarrassed at Seattle 124-84 on Dec. 17, was fortunate to trail only 53-52 at the half after struggling offensively while coach Brian Hill was trying to get rest for O’Neal, Hardaway and Anderson in the second quarter.