Sonics Hold Off Blazers

Over the long grind of an NBA season, individual brilliance is often overshadowed by an opponent’s depth and balance.

Portland’s Rod Strickland, Clyde Drexler and Cliff Robinson combined for 92 points, but depth powered the Seattle SuperSonics to their sixth straight victory in a 131-124 decision Sunday at the Tacoma Dome.

“Their depth just wore our best players down,” Blazers coach P.J. Carlesimo said. “I don’t know how many transition baskets we gave up. I’m almost scared to look.”

Gary Payton scored 29 points, Shawn Kemp had 24 and Detlef Schrempf added 21 for the Sonics. The contributions of Sarunas Marciulionis, Nate McMillan and Vincent Askew were decisive in the Sonics’ sixth straight win over their Northwest rivals and 15th straight at home.

“We’ve been getting big contributions from our bench the last six games, and that was the case tonight,” Karl said.

The Sonics substitutes outscored the Blazers backups 30-19.

Karl used a four-guard lineup frequently and the results were easy baskets and a club record-tying 12 3-point baskets on 20 attempts.

“With four guards on the floor, it’s easier to penetrate their defense and run our passing game, which is our strength,” Marciulionis said.

He had 13 points on 5-for-10 shooting from the field. McMillan added eight points, seven assists and three steals. Askew had nine points and made two key 3-point baskets.

The Sonics shot 55.6 percent from the floor and riddled the Blazers for the most points they’ve scored in regulation this season. They had 132 points against the Los Angeles Clippers in overtime.

Schrempf sealed the Sonics win with two free throws with 11.6 seconds left. He was 6 for 10 from the field, had four assists and four steals. His 3-point bank shot gave the Sonics a 126-115 lead with 1:59 left

The Blazers went on a 9-1 run and pulled within 127-124 on Cliff Robinson’s putback with 12.9 seconds left, but couldn’t get closer.

The Sonics overcame a superlative effort by Strickland, who scored his career high on 13-for-23 shooting.”I had a great game but we still got the ‘L.’ All the points didn’t help,” he said.Carlesimo said his reserves’ de fensive breakdowns didn’t allow him to rest his key starters. Strickland played 43 minutes, Cliff Robinson 41 and Drexler 39.

“All I ask them is to hold the fort defensively and they didn’t do that,” Carlesimo said.

Sonics 131, Trail Blazers 124

FG FT Reb PORTLAND Min M-A M-A O-T A PF Pts C.Robinson 41 11-22 5-7 7-9 2 4 30 Williams 32 3-7 1-2 3-8 2 6 7 Dudley 22 3-9 0-0 6-9 0 4 6 Drexler 39 7-17 13-19 4-7 6 2 30 Strickland 43 13-23 5-8 3-5 4 1 32 Grant 17 0-2 2-3 1-3 1 3 2 Bryant 12 1-2 2-2 1-2 0 1 4 J.Robinson 9 1-3 1-2 0-1 1 2 4 Kersey 20 4-14 1-1 4-4 1 2 9 McKie 5 0-1 0-0 1-1 1 0 0 Totals 240 43-100 30-44 30-49 18 25 124

Percentages: FG .430, FT .682.

3-Point Goals: 8-22, .364 (C.Robinson 3-7, Drexler 3-9, J.Robinson 1-2, Strickland 1-3, Grant 0-1). Team Rebounds: 17

Blocked shots: 10 (J.Robinson 2, Kersey 2, C.Robinson, McKie, Williams, Dudley, Drexler, Grant). Turnovers: 21 (Drexler 5, Strickland 4, Grant 3, C.Robinson 2, Williams 2, Dudley, Bryant, J.Robinson, Kersey, McKie). Steals: 11 (Williams 4, C.Robinson 2, Dudley, Drexler, Grant, Kersey, McKie). Technical fouls: Illegal defense, 7:29, first; Illegal defense, 1:44, second. Illegal defense: 1.

FG FT Reb SEATTLE Min M-A M-A O-T A PF Pts Kemp 37 7-12 10-13 1-7 1 4 24 Schrempf 32 6-10 7-7 1-2 4 5 21 Perkins 36 4-6 2-2 4-10 0 1 12 Gill 29 6-14 3-4 2-7 3 4 15 Payton 40 11-19 3-4 0-2 9 5 29 Askew 25 3-5 1-1 1-2 2 4 9 McMillan 25 3-5 0-0 2-3 7 5 8 Marciulionis 16 5-10 3-3 0-2 3 2 13 Totals 240 45-81 29-34 11-35 29 30 131

Percentages: FG .556, FT .853.

3-Point Goals: 12-20, .600 (Payton 4-4, Schrempf 2-3, Perkins 2-3, Askew 2-3, McMillan 2-4, Gill 0-3). Team Rebounds: 11

Blocked shots: 8 (Kemp 4, Gill 2, Schrempf, Perkins).

Turnovers: 23 (Kemp 5, Schrempf 5, Payton 4, Gill 3, McMillan 3, Perkins, Askew, Marciulionis). Steals: 15 (Schrempf 4, McMillan 3, Perkins 2, Payton 2, Marciulionis 2, Gill, Askew). Technical fouls: Gill, 1:28, fourth; Payton, :2, second. Illegal defense: 1. Portland 35 30 24 35 - 124 Seattle 29 38 37 27 - 131

A-16,950. T-2:23.

Officials-Bill Oakes, Ed Middleton, Tony Brothers.