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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

It’s nine and counting


Danny Fortson's uncontested layup with 4:59 to go gives Seattle an 89-77 lead en route to a ninth straight win.
 (Associated Press / The Spokesman-Review)
Associated Press

TORONTO – The Seattle SuperSonics aren’t satisfied with just having the NBA’s best record.

Rashard Lewis scored 27 points and Ray Allen had 24 to lead the Sonics to their ninth straight victory, 101-94 over the Toronto Raptors on Friday night.

Seattle is 9-1.

“We have to get better. We have to start doing some things better to continue to win,” coach Nate McMillan said. “We’re not happy with just winning these games. It’s a way we want to win. We’re working hard and doing some good things, but to beat those good teams in the NBA you’ve got to have consistency in your defensive effort, your halfcourt execution, because teams will find ways to slow you down.

“We’re finding ways to win games.”

Antonio Daniels scored 12 of his 19 points in the fourth quarter for the surprising SuperSonics, who have won nine straight for the first time since January 1997. Seattle improved to 3-0 on a six-game, 10-day road trip.

“I’m extremely happy, but we have another game Sunday (at Boston) and we don’t want to get too comfortable and too satisfied,” Lewis said. “A lot of teams are going to pay more attention to us.”

The SuperSonics began the night leading the NBA in 3-point accuracy. They went 10-for-19 from behind the arc against Toronto.

Vince Carter had 21 points for the Raptors, losers of five straight.

Fans loudly booed Carter during introductions and almost every time he touched the ball. Carter asked for a trade this summer, and his agent traveled to Toronto on Friday to meet with Raptors general manager Rob Babcock, who is reportedly involved in trade talks with Portland.

“I don’t know what’s going on, I still don’t,” Carter said. “It’s weird, they boo you, then you make a shot, they cheer, so that’s why I’m happy.”

Carter is averaging a career-low 15.6 points per game.

Seattle’s Danny Fortson capped a 12-2 run in the fourth quarter with an uncontested layup to make it 89-77 with 4:59 left.

Toronto twice rallied within seven, but Daniels made four free throws in the final 29 seconds to seal the victory.

SuperSonics 101, Raptors 94

FGFTReb
SEATTLEMinM-AM-AO-TAPFPTS
Evans 280-31-21-11131
Lewis 4010-183-30-42327
James 140-10-02-5140
Allen 427-167-70-26024
Ridnour 273-82-20-12410
Radmanovic 244-110-01-3219
Daniels 317-145-81-35119
Fortson 201-55-65-10147
Collison 142-30-21-5224
Totals 24034-7923-3011-442222101

Percentages: FG .430, FT .767.

3-Point Goals: 10-19, .526 (Lewis 4-4, Allen 3-6, Ridnour 2-3, Radmanovic 1-4, Daniels 0-2).

Team Rebounds: 11. Team Turnovers: 16 (16 PTS).

Blocked Shots: 2 (Radmanovic, Collison).

Turnovers: 13 (Ridnour 3, Radmanovic 2, Evans 2, Fortson 2, Lewis, James, Allen, Daniels).

Steals: 8 (Evans 2, Lewis, James, Collison, Daniels, Ridnour, Fortson).

Technical Fouls: None.

FGFTReb
TORONTOMinM-AM-AO-TAPFPTS
Carter 357-146-80-25521
Bosh 355-76-83-71416
Woods 271-31-21-6013
Rose 365-190-00-34412
Alston 407-152-21-57520
Bonner 257-90-03-71514
Peterson 131-62-20-2014
Moiso 60-02-20-0002
LMurray 151-60-01-2212
Palacio 80-00-00-0000
Totals 24034-7919-249-34202694

Percentages: FG .430, FT .792.

3-Point Goals: 7-20, .350 (Alston 4-6, Rose 2-7, Carter 1-2, Bonner 0-1, Peterson 0-2, L.Murray 0-2).

Team Rebounds: 13. Team Turnovers: 15 (13 PTS).

Blocked Shots: 4 (Carter 2, Moiso 2).

Turnovers: 15 (Alston 4, Bosh 3, L.Murray 2, Rose 2, Carter, Moiso, Palacio, Woods).

Steals: 9 (Rose 5, Alston 3, Bonner).

Technical Fouls: None.

Seattle 19233128—101
Toronto 24232423—94

A—16,886 (19,800). T—2:21.