Sonics Stumble After Rumble Kemp Takes Exception, Ejection And Faces Likely Suspension; Seattle Falls

The greatest regular season in Seattle SuperSonics history ended in rage, then resignation.

Power forward Shawn Kemp’s furious fight with Denver Nuggets forward Tommy Hammonds, which could result in Kemp’s suspension for Friday’s playoff opener against the Sacramento Kings, was the turning point in a surprising 99-88 loss Sunday afternoon.

Shortly after Kemp and Hammonds shuffled off to the locker room, the Sonics were overtaken by the floundering Nuggets before a catatonic crowd of 15,921 at McNichols Arena.

While squandering a lead that reached 15 points midway through the second quarter, the Sonics failed to take advantage of an easy opportunity to tie for the eighth-best record in NBA history.

The lottery-bound Nuggets (35-47) were minus injured starters Dikembe Mutombo and Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf.

The Sonics, who still finished with a club-record 64 victories, will quickly forget this loss, but Kemp’s outburst might be far-reaching.

Certainly, they can beat the Kings without him, but the combination of his quick temper and inconsistent play recently does not bode well for a team that must hurdle a formidable psychological barrier - winning a first-round playoff series.

Kemp refused to speak to reporters afterward, but Karl and team captains Detlef Schrempf, Nate McMillan and Sam Perkins were not concerned - at least publicly. They think Kemp was simply reacting to a physical affront.

“You have to defend yourself in the heat of the moment,” McMillan said.

That moment began with 4:40 left in the third quarter.

Kemp was back on defense waiting for Hammonds, who was wearing a mask to protect his broken nose. As Hammonds loped outside of the lane toward the low post, Kemp stepped up and bumped him. Three quick and forceful bumps followed, then both players exchanged forearms and apparent attempted punches.

In an instant, Hammonds and Kemp were separated. Someone grabbed Hammonds’ jersey and threw him to the floor. At the same time, the court filled with coaches and players. Sonics guard Gary Payton and Nuggets rookie Antonio McDyess exchanged taunts while Kemp was encircled by McMillan, Hersey Hawkins, David Wingate and assistant coach Terry Stotts.

Kemp and Hammonds were each assessed double technical fouls and ejected.

Afterward, Hammonds said, “He (Kemp) just stepped up and forearmed me in the chest. I don’t care if we’re 0-81, that’s not going to happen. So I forearmed him back in the throat.”

Because the game was not televised, video of the incident was taken from afar. But the grainy video will be viewed, frame by frame, by NBA vice president Rod Thorn, who will determine if Kemp attempted a punch, which would result in an automatic suspension for at least one game.

Thorn will also assess fines for players leaving the bench.

In the past two weeks, Kemp missed a team flight, was left off the U.S. Olympic team, was bloodied by New York’s Charles Oakley and Portland’s Buck Williams and was limited to 5 minutes in the first half against the Nuggets because of fouls.

Coach George Karl didn’t see it as Kemp unleashing all his frustrations at once.

“I saw two guys get tied up and tried to separate with their arms and elbows. Their arms just got tangled up,” he said. “I didn’t see anything that deserved a suspension.”

MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: Nuggets 99, SuperSonics 88 FG FT Reb SEATTLE Min M-A M-A O-T A PF Pts Schrempf 27 5-9 2-4 1-2 2 3 13 Kemp 13 2-5 0-0 1-6 0 5 5 Johnson 32 5-9 3-5 1-6 0 6 13 Payton 26 5-12 0-0 1-2 1 2 12 Hawkins 25 1-8 4-4 0-2 3 0 6 Perkins 24 4-7 5-7 3-7 0 3 13 Wingate 27 2-11 0-0 1-2 2 0 4 Askew 24 2-7 1-1 1-6 2 2 5 Snow 24 3-6 1-3 0-0 2 2 7 Scheffler 15 2-4 2-6 2-4 0 4 6 Ford 3 2-2 0-0 0-0 0 1 4 Totals 240 33-80 18-30 11-37 12 28 88 Percentages: FG .413, FT .600. 3-Point Goals: 4-15, .267 (Payton 2-5, Kemp 1-1, Schrempf 1-2, Perkins 0-1, Wingate 0-1, Hawkins 0-2, Askew 0-3). Team Rebounds: 17. Blocked shots: 10 (Kemp 3, Johnson 3, Wingate 2, Perkins, Askew). Turnovers: 14 (Askew 4, Snow 3, Schrempf 2, Kemp, Johnson, Payton, Hawkins, Wingate). Steals: 10 (Payton 3, Askew 2, Snow 2, Johnson, Wingate, Ford). Technical fouls: Kemp, 4:40 third; Payton, 1:18 third; Illegal defense, 11:25 fourth. Ejection: Kemp, 4:40 third. Illegal defense: 1. FG FT Reb DENVER Min M-A M-A O-T A PF Pts D.Ellis 38 8-18 1-2 3-5 1 1 21 L.Ellis 26 6-11 5-7 5-12 2 5 17 McDyess 39 6-17 8-9 4-13 1 2 20 Rose 26 1-8 2-2 0-3 5 3 4 Stith 43 4-15 8-9 6-8 2 3 16 Hammonds 17 2-3 1-2 1-3 0 2 5 Overton 19 2-3 0-0 1-3 2 0 4 McLean 23 3-10 3-3 1-6 5 5 10 Grant 6 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 Fish 3 1-2 0-2 1-2 1 2 2 Totals 240 33-87 28-36 22-55 19 23 99 Percentages: FG .379, FT .778. 3-Point Goals: 5-16, .313 (D.Ellis 4-9, McLean 1-1, L.Ellis 0-1, Overton 0-1, Rose 0-2, Stith 0-2). Team Rebounds: 12. Blocked shots: 11 (McDyess 5, L.Ellis 3, Rose, Hammonds, Overton). Turnovers: 14 (McDyess 4, L.Ellis 3, Rose 2, McLean 2, Overton, Hammonds, Grant). Steals: 7 (Stith 4, Rose, McLean, Fish). Technical fouls: Coach Bickerstaff, :19.6 first; Hammonds, 4:40 third; Rose, 3:52 third; McDyess, 1:18 third. Flagrant foul: Hammonds, 3:56 second. Ejection: Hammonds, 4:40 third. Illegal defense: None. Seattle 28 25 20 15 - 88 Denver 19 26 29 25 - 99 A-15,921 (17,171). T-2:10.