Sonics Withstand Long-Range Bombs Atlanta’s Steve Smith Ties Nba Record With Seven 3-Pointers

Steve Smith was not happy despite scoring 25 points in the final 6 minutes and tying an NBA record with seven 3-pointers in a quarter.

“We’ve got a losing record (10-13) against winning teams,” Smith said after his stellar effort wasn’t enough in Atlanta’s 97-91 loss to the Seattle SuperSonics on Friday night. “We felt this was one we should have won. We shot 25 percent in a terrible third quarter, and when we did play well in the last 6 minutes, it was just a little too late.”

Shawn Kemp, who scored nine of his 26 down the stretch, broke an 89-89 tie with a jumper from the corner with 1:17 to play.

After Mookie Blaylock missed a 3-point try, Kemp muscled in for a dunk that made it 93-89 with 31 seconds left. Hersey Hawkins and Sam Perkins each made two free throws in the final 10 seconds.

Gary Payton added 20 points and seven assists and Hawkins scored 18 for the Sonics, who have won three in a row and eight of their last 10 on the road.

Atlanta trailed 75-62 when Smith began his barrage of seven 3-pointers in a 5:01 span. His final 3 tied the game at 89.

Smith tied an NBA record with his seven 3-pointers in a quarter. John Roche of Denver is the only other NBA player with seven in a quarter. He did it against Seattle on Jan. 9, 1982.

“Steve shot some incredible stuff,” Payton said. “While Atlanta was celebrating Steve’s shots, we were communicating on the court, coming right back and taking the ball right down their throats.”

Seattle coach George Karl added, “We don’t hide what we do. In the fourth quarter, Shawn and Gary are going to get the ball. Gary has stepped up his scoring since we lost Detlef Schrempf.”

Seattle is 6-2 and Payton has averaged 24 points since Schrempf went down until late March with a partial tear of a tendon in his left foot.

Christian Laettner had 14 points for the Hawks, who had a five-game home winning streak stopped.

SuperSonics 97, Hawks 91

FG FT Reb SEATTLE Min M-A M-A O-T A PF Pts Stewart 18 1-5 0-0 1-4 1 2 2 Kemp 39 8-16 10-11 4-10 3 5 26 McIlvaine 19 1-1 2-2 3-3 0 4 4 Hawkins 39 6-13 4-4 1-4 2 3 18 Payton 45 8-19 2-2 1-6 7 1 20 Perkins 22 2-6 4-4 1-5 1 2 8 Cummings 16 2-5 3-5 2-5 0 4 7 McMillan 22 2-4 0-2 1-3 4 1 5 Wingate 20 2-4 3-3 0-0 3 1 7 Totals 240 32-73 28-33 14-40 21 23 97

Percentages: FG .438, FT .848.

3-Point Goals: 5-13, .385 (Hawkins 2-4, Payton 2-5, McMillan 1-1, Cummings 0-1, Wingate 0-2).

Team Rebounds: 5 Blocked shots: 5 (Kemp, McIlvaine, Cummings, McMillan, Wingate).

Turnovers: 12 (Payton 4, Stewart 2, Kemp 2, McMillan 2, McIlvaine, Wingate).

Steals: 16 (Wingate 5, Payton 4, McMillan 4, Perkins 3).

Illegal defense: 1.

FG FT Reb ATLANTA Min M-A M-A O-T A PF Pts Laettner 40 1-7 10-10 2-7 1 3 12 Corbin 38 3-9 0-0 0-3 0 3 8 Mutombo 39 6-14 6-8 4-11 0 5 18 Smith 41 10-20 7-7 2-2 2 3 36 Blaylock 44 3-8 0-0 2-10 5 4 8 Henderson 18 3-6 0-0 5-7 2 2 6 Recasner 12 1-6 0-0 0-1 1 2 3 Barry 3 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 James 5 0-3 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 Totals 240 27-73 13-25 15-41 11 22 91

Percentages: FG .370, FT .920.

3-Point Goals: 14-33, .424 (Smith 9-15, Corbin 2-4, Blaylock 2-6, Recasner 1-2, Laettner 0-3, James 0-3).

Team Rebounds: 8 Blocked shots: 4 (Mutombo 3, Laettner).

Turnovers: 23 (Blaylock 6, Mutombo 4, Smith 4, Laettner 3, Corbin 2, Henderson 2, Barry 2).

Steals: 7 (Mutombo 3, Laettner 2, Blaylock 2).

Technical fouls: Smith, 7:28 third; Mutombo, 7:09 third.

Illegal defense: 1.

Seattle 21 22 20 34 - 97 Atlanta 23 24 13 31 - 91

A-16,378 (16,378). T-2:10.