Wilcox reaching new heights
SEATTLE — Seattle coach Bob Hill bet Chris Wilcox he couldn’t pull down a career high in rebounds again.
Instead of rebounds, Wilcox focused on scoring Wednesday night.
A night after collecting a career-high 19 rebounds, Wilcox scored a career-best 30 points, leading the SuperSonics over the Milwaukee Bucks 114-105.
Before the game, Hill said he’d made a friendly bet with the recently acquired power forward during morning shootaround.
“I can’t get over Wilcox,” Hill said. “I’m going to have to get on him about his assists.”
Wilcox’s passing may be the only area of criticism for Hill. Wilcox had 14 rebounds, made 10 of 14 shots and 10 of 12 free throws. He did, however, go without an assist.
“We’ll see what the bet is for the next game,” Wilcox said. “I tried to get 19. I was a little shy.”
Rashard Lewis scored 22 of his 27 points in the second half, as the Sonics held off a fourth-quarter rally by the Bucks. Wilcox carried the Sonics in the first half, scoring 20 points with seven rebounds as both Lewis and Ray Allen struggled to find their shots.
Since being acquired just before the trade deadline from the Los Angeles Clippers, Wilcox has meshed nicely with Seattle’s up-tempo style. Entering Wednesday’s game, Wilcox was averaging 12.9 points and 6.7 rebounds.
Sonics 114, Bucks 105
| FG | FT | Reb | ||||
| MILWAUKEE | M-A | M-A | O-T | A | PF | PTS |
| Bogut | 3-4 | 3-5 | 2-9 | 4 | 2 | 9 |
| Simmons | 5-11 | 2-2 | 0-2 | 1 | 5 | 14 |
| Magloire | 5-6 | 3-7 | 1-7 | 0 | 0 | 13 |
| Ford | 1-9 | 0-0 | 0-2 | 6 | 3 | 2 |
| Redd | 8-22 | 9-10 | 2-3 | 3 | 6 | 26 |
| Bell | 3-10 | 3-3 | 1-3 | 4 | 5 | 10 |
| Smith | 6-8 | 1-2 | 0-6 | 0 | 5 | 13 |
| Gadzuric | 7-10 | 0-1 | 3-5 | 1 | 1 | 14 |
| Kukoc | 1-2 | 1-2 | 0-0 | 2 | 1 | 4 |
| Jackson | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Totals | 39-82 | 22-32 | 9-37 | 23 | 29 | 105 |
Percentages: FG .476, FT .688. 3-Point Goals: 5-17, .294 (Simmons 2-6, Kukoc 1-1, Bell 1-4, Redd 1-5, Ford 0-1). Team Rebounds: 11. Team Turnovers: 15 (16 PTS). Blocked Shots: 3 (Bell, Bogut, Magloire). Turnovers: 14 (Ford 5, Bogut 4, Magloire 2, Bell, Redd, Simmons). Steals: 7 (Gadzuric 3, Redd 2, Simmons, Smith). Technicals: Def. Three Second, 9:52 third; Coach Stotts, 10:28 fourth.
| FG | FT | Reb | ||||
| SEATTLE | M-A | M-A | O-T | A | PF | PTS |
| Lewis | 8-16 | 7-9 | 3-4 | 3 | 4 | 27 |
| Wilcox | 10-14 | 10-12 | 4-14 | 0 | 4 | 30 |
| Petro | 2-5 | 1-2 | 2-6 | 0 | 3 | 5 |
| Allen | 4-14 | 7-10 | 0-1 | 3 | 5 | 15 |
| Ridnour | 2-5 | 8-8 | 0-5 | 10 | 2 | 12 |
| Watson | 4-9 | 5-6 | 0-5 | 6 | 2 | 14 |
| Swift | 1-3 | 1-2 | 1-4 | 0 | 2 | 3 |
| Moore | 1-2 | 0-0 | 2-4 | 1 | 5 | 2 |
| Wilkins | 2-5 | 2-2 | 0-2 | 1 | 1 | 6 |
| Felix | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Totals | 34-73 | 41-51 | 12-45 | 24 | 29 | 114 |
Percentages: FG .466, FT .804. 3-Point Goals: 5-12, .417 (Lewis 4-5, Watson 1-2, Ridnour 0-1, Allen 0-4).
Team Rebounds: 9. Team Turnovers: 15 (20 PTS). Blocked Shots: 3 (Felix, Petro, Swift). Turnovers: 15 (Watson 5, Ridnour 3, Allen 2, Wilcox 2, Felix, Lewis, Petro). Steals: 9 (Allen 3, Ridnour 3, Petro 2, Swift). Technical Foul: Coach Hill, 7:36 fourth.
| Milwaukee | 24 | 30 | 21 | 30—105 |
| Seattle | 28 | 27 | 28 | 31—114 |
A—15,231 (17,072). T—2:28.