Sonics Remain Bullets-Proof Washington Falls For 17th Consecutive Time In Seattle

The Seattle SuperSonics haven’t been a good team in close games this season. On Friday night, they won a close one.

“It was a good victory because we haven’t done well in these types of games,” Detlef Schrempf said after the Sonics edged the Washington Bullets 97-95.

Winning for only the second time in six games decided by three points or fewer, the Sonics got a basket and three free throws from Schrempf in the final 64 seconds.

“It was a heck of a game,” said Bullets coach Jim Lynam, who had to watch the exciting finish on TV from his lockerroom after being ejected for the first time this season.

“The great thing about a game like this, it gives you confidence that you can win them,” Sonics coach George Karl said.

“When you try and knock down the big one, that brings a lot of emotion out of you,” Chris Webber of the Bullets said.

The Sonics defeated the Bullets for the 17th consecutive time in Seattle. Washington’s last victory here was on Jan. 2, 1980.

The Sonics also won for the 15th time in the last 16 games between the teams.

Schrempf hit a 10-footer from the key with 1:04 left to give Seattle a 93-90 advantage and sank a free throw with 26 seconds remaining. Rod Strickland cut the Sonics’ edge to 94-92 with two free throws and, with 12 seconds left, Washington had a chance to tie it. But Webber missed a 12-foot jump hook.

“It was a good shot, but I just missed it,” Webber said.

Schrempf made two free throws with 9 seconds to go for a 96-92 lead.

Tracy Murray of Washington sank a 3-pointer with 2 seconds left and the Sonics’ Shawn Kemp made a free throw in the final second.

Gary Payton led the Sonics with 19 points and Schrempf scored 18.

Webber had 20 points for the Bullets and Murray came off the bench to get 17.

In the final quarter, the Sonics grabbed an 88-78 lead before the Bullets closed to 89-88. After two free throws by Hersey Hawkins with 3:32 left, the Sonics led 91-88. Juwan Howard sank two free throws for Washington with 1:19 left before Schrempf’s field goal with 1:04 to go.

In the third quarter, Lynam was thrown out by referee Jim Clark, who gave him two technicals. Lynam argued too strongly after Howard received a technical from Clark after claiming he was fouled.

Notes

Jim McIlvaine missed the first 3-point attempt of his career in the opening quarter … After Lynam was ejected, assistant coach Bob Staak finished the game as Washington’s coach. … The Bullets are 1-6 in games decided by three points or fewer … The Sonics finished January with an 11-2 record after being 7-8 in December, the first losing month under Karl… . Kemp, Seattle’s All-Star forward, had an erratic night. He scored 13 points and had 10 rebounds, while getting a season-best five steals, but he tied a season-worst with seven turnovers.

SuperSonics 97, Bullets 95

FG FT Reb WASHINGTON Min M-A M-A O-T A PF Pts Howard 41 2-8 6-7 3-4 4 2 10 Webber 41 8-14 3-4 4-10 3 3 20 Muresan 27 4-9 1-2 4-7 0 4 9 Cheaney 36 8-14 0-0 0-8 1 4 16 Strickland 42 3-16 7-9 1-4 10 3 13 Grant 18 2-5 2-2 2-7 0 1 7 Murray 24 5-9 3-3 1-2 0 4 17 Whitney 6 1-3 0-0 0-1 2 0 3 Jackson 5 0-0 0-0 0-0 1 1 0 Totals 240 33-78 22-27 15-43 21 22 95 Percentages: FG .423, FT .815.

3-Point Goals: 7-18, .389 (Murray 4-7, Whitney 1-2, Grant 1-2, Webber 1-2, Cheaney 0-1, Strickland 0-4).

Team Rebounds: 8.

Blocked shots: 5 (Webber 5) Turnovers: 20 (Howard 5, Webber 5, Strickland 3, Cheaney 2, Murray 2, Muresan, Jackson, team).

Steals: 9 (Strickland 3, Cheaney 3, Webber 2, Howard).

Technical fouls: Howard, 7:02 third; Coach Lynam, 2, 7:02 third.

Ejection: Coach Lynam, 7:02 third.

Illegal defense: 1.

FG FT Reb SEATTLE Min M-A M-A O-T A PF Pts Kemp 37 5-12 3-4 6-10 3 3 13 Schrempf 34 7-16 4-6 2-9 4 0 18 McIlvaine 18 3-7 2-4 2-5 0 4 8 Hawkins 34 3-7 5-5 1-6 6 1 13 Payton 44 8-23 1-2 1-5 7 2 19 Perkins 26 4-6 0-0 1-2 1 1 9 Ehlo 9 1-2 0-0 0-1 2 0 2 Wingate 15 0-0 0-0 0-1 1 1 0 Cummings 15 4-8 3-4 1-2 0 3 11 Snow 4 1-1 0-0 0-1 0 1 2 Stewart 4 1-3 0-0 1-1 0 1 2 Totals 240 37-85 18-25 15-43 24 17 97 Percentages: FG .435, FT .720.

3-Point Goals: 5-21, .238 (Hawkins 2-5, Payton 2-10, Perkins 1-1, Ehlo 0-1, McIlvaine 0-1, Schrempf 0-3).

Team Rebounds: 11.

Blocked shots: 5 (Kemp 2, Schrempf, McIlvaine, Payton).

Turnovers: 15 (Kemp 7, Schrempf 5, Payton, Cummings, team) Steals: 12 (Kemp 5, Payton 3, Hawkins 2, Perkins, Stewart).

Technical fouls: Kemp, 10:04 fourth; Illegal defense 6:21 third.

Illegal defense: 1.

Washington 22 22 24 27 - 95

Seattle 25 20 30 22 - 97

A-17,072 (17,072). T-2:16.