Sonics Run Away With Win Kemp Scores 24, Hawkins 16 In 117-81 Win Over Vancouver

Shawn Kemp scored 24 points and Hersey Hawkins added 16 as the Seattle SuperSonics routed the Vancouver Grizzlies in their first regular-season meeting, 117-81 Saturday night.

Hawkins, averaging 8.4 points a game so far this season, had his highest-scoring game since being traded from Charlotte to Seattle in the off-season.

The Sonics led 61-34 at halftime, and the Grizzlies did not get closer than 20 points in the second half.

Benoit Benjamin led Vancouver with 14 points.

The Grizzlies, who beat Seattle in their only preseason victory, had their second poor-shooting game in four days. They shot 28 percent in a 111-62 loss to San Antonio on Wednesday. In their loss to the Sonics, they shot 38 percent.

Kemp’s baseline shot and Hawkins’ 3-pointer gave their Sonics their biggest lead 92-61 early in the fourth quarter.

The Grizzlies were within 20, 79-59, with 1:40 left in the third quarter.

Sonics reserve David Wingate scored six straight points on two baseline jumpers and a pair of free throws for an 87-61 lead after three quarters.

After opening the season with two victories, the Grizzlies dropped their fourth straight game, including three on the road.

The Sonics led 44-30 with 7:07 left in the half. They finished the half with a 17-4 burst for a 61-34 halftime edge. Kemp had six points on a layup, dunk and two free throws to key the spurt.

Gary Payton led the Sonics with 17 points in the first half. He had three steals and three assists to go with 7-for-10 shooting.

The Grizzlies, who beat Seattle in their only preseason victory, had their second poor-shooting game in four days. They shot 28 percent in a 111-62 loss to San Antonio on Wednesday. In their loss to the Sonics, they shot 38 percent.

Kemp’s baseline shot and Hawkins’ 3-pointer gave their Sonics their biggest lead, 92-61, early in the fourth quarter.

The Grizzlies were within 20, 79-59, with 1:40 left in the third quarter.

Sonics reserve David Wingate scored six straight points on two baseline jumpers and a pair of free throws for an 87-61 lead after three quarters.

After opening the season with two victories, the Grizzlies dropped their fourth straight game.

The Sonics led 44-30 with 7:07 left in the half. They finished the half with a 17-4 burst for a 61-34 halftime edge. Kemp had six points on a layup, dunk and two free throws to key the spurt.

SuperSonics 117, Grizzlies 81

FG FT Reb VANCOUVER Min M-A M-A O-T A PF Pts Gattison 23 2-6 3-6 0-1 0 4 7 King 29 5-9 1-3 3-4 1 3 11 Benjamin 29 6-15 2-2 3-8 1 2 14 Anthony 26 3-6 4-7 1-3 3 4 10 Edwards 26 4-9 2-2 1-7 1 1 10 Martin 21 2-6 0-0 1-2 1 0 4 Scott 21 3-7 3-3 0-0 1 1 9 Harvey 18 2-9 1-2 4-5 0 3 5 Avent 22 0-5 0-0 2-7 0 4 0 Moten 9 4-6 1-2 0-0 0 1 9 Reeves 10 1-5 0-0 1-2 0 2 2 Amaya 6 0-3 0-0 2-3 1 1 0

Totals 240 32-86 17-27 18-42 9 26 81

Percentages: FG .372, FT .630.

3-Point Goals: 0-8, .000 (Scott 0-4, Anthony 0-1, Martin 0-1, Harvey 0-1, Moten 0-1).

Team Rebounds: 11.

Blocked shots: 3 (Benjamin 2, Edwards).

Turnovers: 15 (King 4, Benjamin 3, Gattison 2, Anthony, Edwards, Scott, Avent, Reeves, Team).

Steals: 6 (Anthony 3, Martin, Harvey, Moten).

Technical fouls: None.

Illegal defense: None.

FG FT Reb SEATTLE Min M-A M-A O-T A PF Pts Kemp 31 9-12 6-9 2-8 6 0 24 Schrempf 28 7-11 0-1 1-7 5 1 17 Johnson 21 2-4 3-4 3-11 2 3 7 Hawkins 35 6-13 0-0 0-3 2 6 16 Payton 31 7-13 2-3 0-2 4 1 17 Perkins 18 4-6 1-2 1-5 1 2 9 Snow 24 2-6 3-4 0-2 3 4 7 Ford 11 2-6 2-2 2-4 1 0 6 Brickowski 16 1-2 1-2 0-5 1 1 3 Wingate 16 2-4 5-6 1-1 1 0 9 Scheffler 9 1-3 0-0 0-1 0 0 2 Totals 240 43-80 23-33 10-49 26 18 117

Percentages: FG .538, FT .697.

3-Point Goals: 8-17, .471 (Hawkins 4-6, Schrempf 3-3, Payton 1-3, Perkins 0-1, Ford 0-3).

Team Rebounds: 9.

Blocked shots: 5 (Kemp 3, Payton, Scheffler).

Turnovers: 12 (Payton 3, Kemp 2, Perkins 2, Snow 2, Brickowski, Wingate, Team).

Steals: 8 (Payton 4, Kemp 2, Johnson, Scheffler).

Technical fouls: Kemp, 2:05 first; Illegal defense, :20 first.

Illegal defense: 1.

Vancouver 18 16 27 20 - 81

Seattle 35 26 26 30 - 117

A-17,102 (16,296). T-2:08.