Reserves set the pace as Sonics win
SEATTLE – The Seattle SuperSonics wish they could get the same production every night from their bench.
Led by Ronald Murray’s season-high 29 points, Seattle’s bench sparked a second-half rally and the SuperSonics beat the Boston Celtics 118-111 Monday night.
The Sonics’ reserves outscored their own starters 63-55, and held on in the closing moments despite 43 points from Boston’s Paul Pierce.
“I think we came out tonight more focused the last couple of minutes,” Murray said. “They made a run on us and took our lead away, but we just came together toward the end.”
Murray was outstanding in the second half, going 8 of 10 while filling in for the ill Luke Ridnour. Murray scored 18 in the third quarter and Nick Collison scored six of Seattle’s last nine points as the Sonics won at home for just the second time in their last seven games.
The victory may have come at a cost for Seattle. Murray dislocated a joint on the middle and ring finger of his shooting hand in the closing minutes battling Boston’s Ricky Davis for a loose ball. X-rays were negative and he will receive further evaluation today.
“I came off a lot of screen-and-rolls and they were collapsing so much … on the post that it left me open for some shots,” said Murray, who was in some pain in the locker room afterward.
With the game tied at 105, Murray converted a three-point play with 3:40 left, followed by a free throw from Damien Wilkins and a follow by Collison for a 111-105 Seattle lead.
Delonte West answered with consecutive 3-pointers for Boston, sandwiched around Wilkins’ free throw for a 112-111 Seattle lead. Pierce missed a chance to give Boston the lead with 1:29 left and Rashard Lewis made two free throws. West then missed a 3-pointer with 58 seconds left and Collison was fouled on the rebound and made both free throws.
Boston missed its final two shots and Pierce went scoreless the final 3:58 and took just two shots. He shot 13 of 25 from the field and was 16 of 21 at the free throw line.
“It’s a team game. Guys have to step up and understand that the focus is on me. When I have it going you have to look for it,” Pierce said. “I thought a couple of times we went out on our own and wasted possessions.”
Pierce tied his season high and was the first player to score 40 or more points against Seattle this season. Kobe Bryant was the last, scoring 42 on April 8. Pierce finished five points shy of his career high.
Seattle put six players in double figures. Lewis was quiet after scoring 10 in the first quarter and finished with 21. Ray Allen added 18, but struggled through a 3-of-13 shooting performance, and Collison added 16 off the bench.