Sonics Finish On An Up Note But Seattle Needs Lakers Loss Today

Gary Payton, Shawn Kemp and Detlef Schrempf tuned up for the playoffs with a dominating performance against the Los Angeles Clippers.

“If we can get them in a rhythm like they were tonight, I don’t think there’s anybody who can beat us,” Seattle guard Hersey Hawkins said.

The All-Star trio combined for 71 points and made 25 of 36 attempts from the field Saturday night as the SuperSonics completed the regular season with a 125-100 victory over the playoff-bound Clippers.

The SuperSonics (57-25) have a half-game lead over the second-place Los Angeles Lakers in the Pacific Division. The Lakers can take the division title and the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference playoffs with a victory today at Portland.

Payton scored 25, Schrempf had 24 and Kemp added 22 points and 10 rebounds as the Sonics scored their second-highest point total of the season in burying the Clippers.

The Sonics had 10-0 and 23-4 runs in racing to a 34-14 lead after one quarter. Sonics coach George Karl was pleased with the play of his marquee players.

“Shawn and Gary were great,” Karl said.

When asked about the playoffs that begin Friday night in Seattle against an undetermined opponent, Karl responded: “Exhibition season is over. We’re ready.”

Though Karl didn’t refer to Schrempf, the 6-foot-10 forward had 10 of his points in the first quarter. He was 9 for 13 from the field, including 3 for 5 from 3-point range.

Clippers coach Bill Fitch has to prepare his team for the Utah Jazz, top seed in the Western Conference. He was impressed by the Sonics.

“Seattle did a great job,” Fitch said. “They don’t have the depth or size of the Lakers but they’re going to be dangerous in the playoffs. We’re still playing regular season defense and the other teams are experienced playoff teams and they’re taking it up a notch.

Seattle closed the season with three straight victories after losing 113-73 last Sunday at Houston.

Kemp had several spectacular dunks, made eight of 12 shots and blocked two shots. Over the last three games, Kemp averaged 23.6 points.

“It’s taken me a while to get back on track, but I think my offensive game is almost there,” Kemp said.

McMillan on injured list

Nate McMillan was placed on the injured list Saturday, but he will be on the team’s active roster for the playoffs.

McMillan is hoping rest will help heal a partially torn meniscus cartilage in his right knee, and Saturday’s game marked the third straight he has missed.

Generally, a player has to sit out five games once placed on the injured list, but that rule is waived once there are fewer than five games remaining in the regular season.

The Sonics must submit a 12-man playoff roster to the NBA office Monday, and head coach George Karl and team president and general manager Wally Walker said McMillan will be on that list.

“His name will be on it or mine won’t be,” Karl said.

Steve Scheffler was activated for Saturday’s game as the Sonics hoped he might be able to play in a blowout situation.

But it is likely that Scheffler and Craig Ehlo will not be on the 12-man playoff roster. Ehlo has apparently lost his reserve guard spot to Greg Graham, who has impressed the team lately with his quickness on defense.

Cummings playoff starter

Terry Cummings made his third straight start at center Saturday, and it appears likely that he will be the starting center in the playoffs.

However, Karl said that wasn’t a certainty, and also said that the move shouldn’t be perceived as an unhappiness with Jim McIlvaine, who was moved to the bench.

Karl said McIlvaine has given the Sonics what they expected even if that isn’t the perception nationally, where many look at McIlvaine’s seven-year, $33 million deal and assume his 3.8 points and 4.0 rebounds a game haven’t measured up.

“He’s been maybe a little better than we thought he would be this year, but no one wants to believe that, so what can we do?,” Karl said.

SuperSonics 125, Clippers 100

FG FT Reb L.A. CLIPPERS Min M-A M-A O-T A PF Pts Rogers 27 5-11 1-1 2-3 1 4 13 Vaught 30 7-14 2-3 5-13 1 1 16 Wright 29 1-4 2-4 4-6 0 2 4 Martin 18 0-6 0-0 1-2 5 3 0 Sealy 14 0-6 0-0 0-0 1 1 0 Piatkowski 12 4-9 3-4 0-2 1 0 12 Barry 17 2-6 0-2 0-0 2 2 5 Outlaw 20 1-3 0-1 2-3 3 6 2 Dehere 17 2-5 4-4 1-2 1 2 8 Richardson 21 6-10 2-4 0-1 4 2 15 Murray 21 5-7 7-7 1-2 2 2 19 Manning 14 3-6 0-0 3-5 1 2 6 Totals 240 36-87 21-30 19-39 22 27 100 Percentages: FG .414, FT .700.

3-Point Goals: 7-21, .333 (Murray 2-3, Rogers 2-4, Piatkowski 1-1, Richardson 1-3, Barry 1-4, Outlaw 0-1, Dehere 0-1, Martin 0-2, Sealy 0-2).

Team Rebounds: 9 Blocked shots: 8 (Wright 3, Rogers 2, Murray 2, Outlaw).

Turnovers: 16 (Rogers 3, Martin 3, team 3, Richardson 2, Vaught, Sealy, Piatkowski, Outlaw, Murray).

Steals: 5 (Richardson 2, Dehere, Barry, Rogers).

Technical fouls: None.

Illegal defense: None.

FG FT Reb SEATTLE Min M-A M-A O-T A PF Pts Kemp 33 8-12 5-6 6-10 1 4 22 Schrempf 26 9-13 3-4 0-3 4 2 24 Cummings 22 4-8 0-2 3-5 1 2 8 Hawkins 26 2-4 2-2 0-4 5 1 6 Payton 29 8-11 9-10 0-2 8 0 25 Perkins 17 4-8 0-1 1-3 1 1 8 McIlvaine 17 1-3 1-4 0-5 0 5 3 Stewart 20 1-4 4-4 4-6 1 0 6 Wingate 14 1-4 1-1 0-2 3 3 3 Graham 21 5-12 1-2 0-1 3 1 13 Snow 8 1-1 0-0 0-1 2 0 2 Scheffler 7 2-2 1-2 0-0 0 2 5 Totals 240 46-82 27-38 14-42 29 21 125 Percentages: FG .561, FT .711.

3-Point Goals: 6-15, .400 (Schrempf 3-5, Graham 2-4, Kemp 1-1, McIlvaine 0-1, Perkins 0-2, Hawkins 0-2).

Team Rebounds: 17 Blocked shots: 6 (Kemp 2, Perkins 2, Stewart 2).

Turnovers: 13 (Kemp 2, Schrempf 2, Hawkins 2, Graham 2, Payton, Perkins, McIlvaine, Snow, team).

Steals: 9 (Payton 3, Hawkins 3, Schrempf 2, Cummings).

Technical fouls: Illegal defense, 2:59 first; Illegal defense, 6:15 second; Kemp, 4:02 third.

Illegal defense: 1.

L.A. Clippers 14 27 27 32 - 100

Seattle 34 26 35 30 - 125

A-17,072 (17,072). T-2:08.