Sonics Stroll, But Kemp’s Funk Continues Tardy Power Forward Adds Little To Seattle’s Rout Of Milwaukee

Shawn Kemp’s benching is over.

Kemp, who lost his starting job for missing or being late to several team functions, served the last part of his sentence Thursday night and didn’t have a particularly great night - even though his team did.

Kemp came off the bench for the third straight game and had just 10 points and six rebounds in 24 minutes as the Sonics cruised past the Milwaukee Bucks 103-80 and reclaimed first place in the Pacific Division.

“My hope is to start him Saturday against Dallas,” coach George Karl said. “We need him to regain his confidence before the playoffs begin. We have no illusions that we can win this thing without him.”

Kemp continues to struggle. His stat line was the 14th time in the last 19 games that he has been below his scoring and rebounding averages.

Kemp’s benching was supposed to last two games, but it was extended after he was late for a team meeting Wednesday. Kemp came off the bench the previous games for missing a team plane and skipping practice before a game March 30 in Phoenix.

The Sonics moved a half-game ahead of the idle Los Angeles Lakers as they beat the Bucks for the seventh straight time in Seattle and split the season series. Milwaukee won 100-97 earlier this season.

Kemp was 4 for 10 from the field with one dunk, but his power game is still missing. His inside shots were rejected by Andrew Lang and Glenn Robinson in the third quarter.

He refused to speak to reporters after the game.

Gary Payton scored 22 points and Detlef Schrempf added 13 in his first start since February 26. In a post-game interview, Schrempf appealed for the fans to support Kemp.

“He’s had a few problems away from the court and we need to support him,” Schrempf said. “Not just us as players but the fans. He’s a great player and we need him back.”

No Sonics would comment on Kemp’s off-court problems.

Kemp made his first appearance with 3:24 left in the first quarter. He was greeted by a blend of boos and cheers.

SuperSonics 103, Bucks 80

FG FT Reb MILWAUKEE Min M-A M-A O-T A PF Pts Baker 31 5-12 2-5 2-8 3 2 12 Robinson 31 7-17 0-0 1-3 4 1 15 Lang 13 1-1 1-2 0-1 0 2 3 Allen 30 2-8 2-2 3-7 2 3 6 Douglas 20 0-2 1-2 0-1 0 3 1 Brown 28 4-9 5-6 4-7 2 2 13 Newman 30 3-13 6-8 3-5 0 3 13 Gilliam 15 1-3 0-0 2-5 3 0 2 Perry 27 5-8 1-2 2-5 3 1 11 Wood 3 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 1 0 Wolf 10 1-3 0-0 2-2 0 1 2 Earl 2 0-1 2-2 1-1 0 0 2 Totals 240 29-77 20-29 20-45 17 19 80

Percentages: FG .377, FT .690.

3-Point Goals: 2-11, .182 (Robinson 1-2, Newman 1-3, Douglas 0-1, Allen 0-2, Perry 0-3).

Team Rebounds: 6.

Blocked shots: 8 (Baker 3, Robinson 2, Lang, Brown, Newman).

Turnovers: 22 (Baker 6, Robinson 5, Newman 4, Perry 2, Douglas 2, Allen, Brown, Team).

Steals: 9 (Newman 2, Gilliam 2, Baker, Robinson, Lang, Douglas, Perry).

Technical fouls: Baker, 7:54, first.

Illegal defense: None.

FG FT Reb SEATTLE Min M-A M-A O-T A PF Pts McMillan 25 0-3 2-2 1-6 7 4 2 Schrempf 29 4-8 5-6 0-4 3 3 13 McIlvaine 4 1-1 0-0 0-1 0 1 2 Hawkins 32 4-10 0-0 2-3 6 0 9 Payton 27 11-14 0-0 0-3 2 5 22 Perkins 26 7-12 1-2 0-5 1 1 17 Kemp 24 4-10 2-2 2-6 0 5 10 Wingate 24 2-4 0-0 0-2 2 4 5 Stewart 10 3-4 2-4 1-1 1 1 8 Cummings 18 4-9 2-2 2-4 2 1 10 Ehlo 9 1-4 0-0 1-4 2 0 3 Snow 12 1-2 0-0 0-0 0 1 2 Totals 240 42-81 14-18 9-39 26 26 103

Percentages: FG .519, FT .778.

3-Point Goals: 5-16, .313 (Perkins 2-4, Wingate 1-2, Ehlo 1-2, Hawkins 1-3, Payton 0-1, Snow 0-1, Stewart 0-1, McMillan 0-2).

Team Rebounds: 10.

Blocked shots: 5 (Perkins 3, McMillan, Kemp).

Turnovers: 18 (Schrempf 3, Cummings 3, Payton 2, Kemp 2, Wingate 2, Snow 2, Hawkins, Perkins, Ehlo, Team).

Steals: 13 (Hawkins 4, Wingate 4, McMillan 3, Payton 2).

Technical fouls: Schrempf, 7:54, first.

Illegal defense: 1.

Milwaukee 12 31 13 24 - 80 Seattle 30 25 22 26 - 103

A-17,072 (17,072). T-2:02.