Sonics get off on right foot, win
SEATTLE — Ray Allen scored 28 points and Seattle center Jerome James added 17 points and a career-high 15 rebounds, leading the SuperSonics to an 87-82 win over the Sacramento Kings in Game 1 of their first-round playoff series Saturday night.
The Sonics blew a 21-point second-half lead but held on with big baskets in the closing seconds by Allen and James.
Cuttino Mobley scored 16 of his 22 points in the second half for the Kings. His jumper with 1:10 to play pulled Sacramento to 83-79, and he added a 3-pointer with 42.4 seconds to go to make it 83-82.
The Sonics answered, getting James open for a layup with 25 seconds to play after Antonio Daniels found him in the lane.
Sacramento went back to Mobley, who came off a screen by Greg Ostertag but missed a 3-point try from the right wing. Peja Stojakovic corralled the ball in the backcourt and fed Mike Bibby, but he put up an airball that ended Sacramento’s chances.
Allen added two late free throws, then threw the ball in the air after Bobby Jackson missed a 3-pointer with 3 seconds to go.
Game 2 of the best-of-seven series is Tuesday night in Seattle.
Stojakovic led Sacramento with 24 points, and Kenny Thomas added 10 points and eight rebounds.
Rashard Lewis scored 18 points for Seattle, and Daniels added 12.
James played inspired. The center, who started his NBA career in Sacramento, has been inconsistent during his five seasons with the Sonics, but he and seemed to relish taking it to his former team.
James had three blocked shots by halftime, and added two more early in the second half. He finished with five blocks, and his work around the basket — eight offensive rebounds — helped Seattle to a 51-44 rebounding advantage.
Seattle seemed safe, leading 63-41 early in the second half after a jumper by Allen, and it looked like another first-round blowout on a day where Detroit, Houston and Boston all coasted to easy wins.
The Kings had other ideas. Sacramento used a 14-3 run over the final 4:57 of the third quarter to pull to 70-64, trimming the margin on a basket by Stojakovic and a three-point play from Miller.
They also got two big baskets and three rebounds from Ostertag in the run. The Kings kept it going by opening the final quarter with a dunk by Ostertag and a bucket from Stojakovic, cutting the deficit to four at 72-68.
The Sonics held. Allen ignored his 1-for-7 effort to start the second half and swished a 3-pointer to put Seattle up 75-68, then James had a huge rebound and putback and Lewis added another basket for a 79-70 lead with 5:32 to go.
Sacramento center Brad Miller, who missed the final 25 regular season games with a broken left leg, scored seven points in 8 minutes. He played 4 minutes in the first half and returned in the third quarter, taking part in the key run.
Notes
Kings C Darius Songalia was assessed a flagrant foul midway through the second quarter when he reached across Antonio Daniels, flattening the Seattle guard at midcourt. … Seattle Seahawks QB Matt Hasselbeck watched from a seat on one baseline. … Tempers flared when Reggie Evans rolled over Thomas after Thomas rebounded with 1:39 to play, but officials stepped in to cool things down. Evans had 15 rebounds, eight offensive. … Sonics F Danny Fortson made his first playoff start after 402 NBA games, the third-longest stretch among active players. He scored three points.