Delivered On A Trey Sonics’ 20 3s Sink Rockets

Phenomenal long-range shooting helped Seattle lengthen its lead over Houston in their Western Conference NBA playoff series.

The SuperSonics hit a playoff-record 20 3-pointers, including 13 in a row, to beat the Rockets 105-101 Monday night and take a 2-0 lead over the two-time defending NBA champions.

“We shot the ball unbelievably,” Sonics coach George Karl said. “I don’t think we can rely on that to win this series. But thank heavens, tonight it worked.”

Nate McMillan, who made all five of his 3-point attempts to tie a playoff record, wasn’t surprised by the long-range barrage.

“The 3-pointer is a part of both teams’ offense,” he said. “Houston has been winning like this the last two years.” Not against the Sonics, though. Seattle got its 11th consecutive victory over the Rockets, including six this season.

The teams combined for 33 3-pointers, also a playoff record. Seattle made 20 of 27 3-pointers (74 percent), while the Rockets were 13 of 37 (48 percent).

“To take a barrage like that was amazing,” said Houston coach Rudy Tomjanovich. “If we played any other team in the league, I’m sure we’d win the game and it probably wouldn’t even be a close game.”

Detlef Schrempf led the Sonics with 21 points and Gary Payton, selected the league’s defensive player of the year earlier in the day, had 18 points and made a key steal from Hakeem Olajuwon in the closing seconds.

Clyde Drexler scored 19 points for Houston. Olajuwon, held to six points in Seattle’s 33-point victory in Game 1, had 17 points and 16 rebounds, but was only 8 for 21 from the field.

The Rockets reminded everyone they overcame 0-2 deficits the past two seasons against Phoenix in the conference semifinals and rallied to move on.

“They don’t give out medals for winning two games,” Houston guard Kenny Smith said. “You get medals for winning four games.”

With 10.1 seconds left, Payton knocked the ball loose from Olajuwon in the corner after the Houston center rebounded Mario Elie’s missed 3-pointer with the Rockets down two.

Shawn Kemp got the ball and was fouled by Olajuwon. Kemp then made two free throws to seal Seattle’s win.

“I knew Hakeem was going to get the ball and try to do something,” Payton said of his crucial steal. “I stuck my hand in there and knocked it loose. Fortunately, Shawn was able to pick it up.”

“I tried to pass it out to (Robert) Horry,” Olajuwon said. “He (Payton) knocked it down and they won the scramble for the ball.”

Games 3 and 4 in the best-of-seven series will be played in Houston on Friday night and Sunday.

The Sonics broke Houston’s playoff record of 19 3-pointers, set against Utah on April 29, 1995. Houston and Utah combined for 28 3s in that game.

Payton, Sam Perkins and Hersey Hawkins each had three 3-pointers for Seattle. Horry had four for Houston, while Drexler and Smith had three.

In the final quarter, Seattle made 5 of 8 3-pointers, including one by Perkins that gave the Sonics a 103-99 lead with 2:11 left. Houston was 1 for 7 from behind the arc in the fourth quarter.

Elie cut it to 103-101 with a driving layup with 1:51 remaining, but those were Houston’s final points.

Trailing 88-82 early in the fourth, Seattle went on a 15-2 run for a 97-90 lead with 5:18 left. Hawkins sank two 3-pointers and Payton one in the run.

When Payton hit a long shot with 28 seconds left in the third quarter, it was Seattle’s 13th consecutive 3-pointer. Drexler’s two free throws with 15 seconds left in the period gave Houston an 82-80 lead.

At the start of the fourth quarter, Schrempf and Perkins missed 3’s. The teams had a combined streak of 17 consecutive 3-pointers made before Smith missed one with 1:24 left in the third quarter.

The Sonics made all seven 3-pointers they took in the second quarter, the first three by McMillan and two by Frank Brickowski, to stay close, although Kemp and Payton picked up their third fouls in the period.

Olajuwon’s 17-footer with 0.6 seconds left in the second quarter gave the Rockets a 51-49 halftime lead.

With 3:53 remaining in the half, Mark Bryant fouled Payton after the Sonics guard missed a left-handed layup. Payton then fell awkwardly to the floor and Bryant fell on top of him, stunning Payton momentarily.

The Sonics had no offensive rebounds in the first half. They wound up with four for the game.

MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: SuperSonics 105, Rockets 101 FG FT Reb HOUSTON Min M-A M-A O-T A PF Pts Brown 23 5-10 1-2 1-2 1 1 11 Horry 37 4-9 2-4 1-4 5 3 14 Olajuwon 41 8-21 1-1 4-16 4 2 17 Drexler 37 7-11 2-2 2-9 4 3 19 Smith 27 3-11 2-2 2-3 7 3 11 Cassell 26 1-5 6-8 0-0 5 3 9 Bryant 17 5-7 2-3 0-2 1 3 12 Elie 25 2-6 0-0 0-2 1 2 5 Mack 6 1-1 0-0 0-0 0 0 3 Jones 1 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 Totals 240 36-81 16-22 10-38 28 20 101 Percentages: FG .444, FT .727. 3-Point Goals: 13-27, .481 (Horry 4-7, Drexler 3-4, Smith 3-8, Mack 1-1, Cassell 1-3, Elie 1-4). Team Rebounds: 8. Blocked shots: 5 (Olajuwon 4, Horry). Turnovers: 12 (Olajuwon 5, Drexler 3, Smith, Cassell, Bryant, Elie). Steals: 8 (Horry 2, Olajuwon 2, Drexler 2, Cassell, Elie). Technical fouls: None. Illegal defense: 1. FG FT Reb SEATTLE Min M-A M-A O-T A PF Pts Kemp 35 5-13 7-8 2-10 2 3 17 Schrempf 45 9-16 1-3 1-10 5 2 21 Johnson 14 1-1 0-0 0-0 0 2 2 Hawkins 32 3-6 2-2 0-4 4 3 11 Payton 43 7-15 1-3 0-5 5 4 18 McMillan 24 5-6 0-0 0-4 3 1 15 Perkins 27 3-5 0-0 1-3 4 1 9 Askew 13 2-6 0-0 0-1 2 3 6 Brickowski 7 2-2 0-0 0-1 0 1 6 Totals 240 37-70 11-16 4-38 25 20 105 Percentages: FG .529, FT .688. 3-Point Goals: 20-27, .741 (McMillan 5-5, Hawkins 3-3, Payton 3-5, Perkins 3-5, Askew 2-2, Brickowski 2-2, Schrempf 2-5). Team Rebounds: 5. Blocked shots: 4 (Kemp 2, Schrempf, Johnson). Turnovers: 16 (Schrempf 5, Kemp 4, Hawkins 2, Johnson, Payton, McMillan, Perkins, Brickowski). Steals: 4 (Payton 3, Hawkins). Technical fouls: Payton, 5:00 first; illegal defense, 9:22 second; illegal defense, 6:05 third; illegal defense, 4:18 fourth. Illegal defense: 1. Houston 19 32 31 19 - 101 Seattle 22 27 31 25 - 105 A-17,072 (17,072). T-2:22.