Sonics Maintain Their Winning Pace Sacramento Becomes Seattle’s 16th Victim In Last 19 Games

Sat., Dec. 27, 1997

Associated Press

Vin Baker had 26 points and 16 rebounds and Gary Payton had 22 points and 12 assists as the Seattle SuperSonics, helped by their surge in the second half, defeated the Sacramento Kings 111-95 Friday night.

It was the 16th win in 19 games for Seattle, which held Mitch Richmond to one field goal in the final 14 minutes and used a 22-7 run in the third quarter to pull away for good.

Sacramento held a 65-64 lead midway through the third quarter before Sam Perkins made two 3-pointers during Seattle’s run. Dale Ellis followed Perkins off the bench and contributed a pair of 3-point shots while scoring 10 of his 18 points in the fourth quarter.

Richmond led the Kings with 25 points and Corliss Williamson added 23.

The Kings kept up with the Sonics early on, shooting 58.8 percent in the first quarter and making all three of their 3-point attempts for a 27-25 lead after one quarter.

Getting a lift from Olden Polynice’s six points off the bench, Sacramento built a nine-point lead, 43-34, with 5:50 remaining in the second quarter.

Baker and Payton, who were being rested early in the quarter, then led a 19-4 charge that produced Seattle’s six-point halftime lead.

Notes

Led by Ellis, who made all five of his 3-point attempts, Seattle connected on 10 of 19 3-pointers… . Seattle improved to 10-4 on the road… . The Sonics’ 22-6 start is the second best in franchise history. The 1993-94 squad went 25-3 after 28 games en route to a 63-victory season… . The Sonics are 42-13 in regular-season games against Sacramento since the Kings moved from Kansas City in 1985-86… . Rookie center Michael Stewart had a team-high 11 rebounds and five blocks for Sacramento.

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Sonics Maintain Their Winning Pace Sacramento Becomes Seattle’s 16th Victim In Last 19 Games

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