Sonics Demolish Hawks With 13 Treys Seattle Sets Club Record For 3-Pointers In 121-98 Win

George Karl couldn’t grumble about his team being outrebounded Friday night. With all the 3-pointers the SuperSonics were hitting, rebounds hardly mattered.

“When we shoot 3-pointers like that, we are hard to beat,” Karl said after the Sonics set a club record with 13 as Seattle beat the Atlanta Hawks 121-98 Friday night.

The 13 treys were one better than the previous club mark set Jan. 15 against Portland.

Gary Payton scored 22 points to lead the Sonics, who won their teamrecord ninth straight on the road. It was their 13th victory in 15 games, but only their second in their last 14 at Atlanta.

“It wasn’t a slow-down, physical game like I thought it might be,” Karl said. “I think that the start we got off to (19-2) made them play a little bit.”

Shawn Kemp and Kendall Gill each had 18 points for Seattle. Sam Perkins added 16.

Steve Smith led the Hawks, who had a two-game winning streak snapped, with 18 points and Stacey Augmon and Craig Ehlo added 17. The Hawks held a 45-42 rebounding edge.

It was the second road victory in as many nights for the Sonics, who beat Orlando 106-103 Thursday night, snapping the Magic’s 24-game home regular season winning streak, including three at the end of last season.

“They are just playing great basketball,” Hawks coach Lenny Wilkens said. “Right now, I would say they are one of the top three teams in the league.”