Payton’s Homecoming Big Success Former Oregon State Standout Shoots Sonics Past Trail Blazers

Playing on his old home court, Gary Payton scored 22 points and made the go-ahead basket Sunday night as the Seattle SuperSonics beat the Portland Trail Blazers 100-98 in an NBA exhibition game at Oregon State University.

The game was the final pre-season contest for both teams, drawing 9,314 for Payton’s homecoming at Gill Coliseum.

Payton, who played for Oregon State from 1987-90, and remains the school’s all-time leading scorer, had his jersey, No. 20, retired in a halftime ceremony.

Portland guard Isaiah Rider was a late scratch from the starting lineup after he missed the Blazers’ bus from Portland.

Rider attended the team’s shoot-around at Lewis & Clark College in Portland on Sunday morning, but Blazers officials had no word on his whereabouts during the game.

Portland, which never trailed until 8:11 to play, got 20 points each from Kenny Anderson and Clifford Robinson. Aaron McKie added 17 points and Arvydas Sabonis had 16 for the Blazers.

Shawn Kemp had 20 points for Seattle. Detlef Schempf had 16 and Sam Perkins scored 13 for the SuperSonics.

Payton also had 11 assists and four rebounds. He put Seattle ahead for good at 91-89 when he made a 3-point shot with 2:27 to go. Moments later, he added a fast-break basket to extend the lead to 93-89.

Portland was also missing Sasha Djordjevic with a sprained right ankle and Jermaine O’Neal with a sprained left knee.

Seattle played without Steve Scheffler due to inflammation in his right foot and Nate McMillan with a groin injury.

Seattle finished the exhibition season 6-2 and begins the regular season Friday at Utah.

Portland, 4-4, starts its schedule Friday at Vancouver, British Columbia.

Sonics 100, Blazers 98

Seattle (100) - Schrempf 4-12 7-8 16, Kemp 5-12 10-17 20, McIlvaine 3-6 2-2 8, Hawkins 4-8 0-0 9, Payton 7-15 6-7 22, Ford 0-0 1-2 1, Ehlo 2-7 1-2 5, Perkins 4-7 4-5 13, Stewart 1-1 2-2 4, Wingate 1-4 0-0 2. Totals 31-72 33-45 100.

Portland (98) - Robinson 7-19 4-8 20, Wallace 2-6 0-0 4, Sabonis 4-10 7-7 16, McKie 5-11 4-6 17, Anderson 7-14 5-5 20, Butler 2-2 0-0 5, Wingfield 3-4 0-0 7, Dudley 1-2 1-7 3, Jordan 1-2 0-0 2, Trent 2-5 0-0 4. Totals 34-75 21-33 98.

Seattle 23 24 25 28 - 100

Portland 26 27 23 22 - 98

3-Point goals-SuperSonics 5-15 (Schrempf 1-3, Kemp 0-1, Hawkins 1-3, Payton 2-3, Ehlo 0-3, Perkins 1-2), Trail Blazers 9-18 (Robinson 2-4, Wallace 0-1, Sabonis 1-3, McKie 3-4, Anderson 1-4, Butler 1-1, Wingfield 1-1). Fouled out-None. Rebounds- SuperSonics 35 (Kemp, Hawkins 6), Trail Blazers 42 (Sabonis 9). Assists-SuperSonics 24 (Payton 11), Trail Blazers 23 (Anderson 8). Total fouls-SuperSonics 26, Trail Blazers 34. Technicals- Carlesimo, Payton. A-9,314.