Sonics upend Kings

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Ray Allen scored 25 points and made a key 3-pointer late in the fourth quarter that helped the Seattle SuperSonics win their second straight road game following a franchise-record 15-game skid away from home, 114-103 over the Sacramento Kings on Sunday night.

Sacramento cut a 22-point third-quarter deficit to two midway through the fourth quarter, but could never get over the hump. Allen’s 3-pointer with 2:33 remaining gave the Sonics a 99-91 lead and they held on from there.

Seattle snapped its long road skid with a 103-102 victory at Indiana last Wednesday. The Sonics lost at home to Sacramento on Saturday in between the two road wins.

Chris Wilcox added 25 points on 8-for-9 shooting for the Sonics, while Rashard Lewis had 23 points and 10 rebounds and Luke Ridnour scored 14.

Seattle made 37 of 41 free throws compared to 19 of 30 for Sacramento.

Trailing by 15 after three quarters, the Kings tightened up defensively and scored the first 10 points of the fourth quarter to cut it to 85-80. Seattle missed its first eight shots of the quarter and 10 straight overall before Allen’s jumper made it 89-82 with 6:56 to go.

John Salmons then scored on the other end for Sacramento, drawing a foul from Wilcox. Salmons missed the free throw, but Corliss Williamson got the rebound to set up Kevin Martin’s 3-pointer that made it 89-87, capping a 17-4 run. But that was as close as Sacramento would get.

Martin scored 24 points to lead the Kings, who had won a season-high five consecutive games. Ron Artest added 21 points and 12 rebounds, and Williamson had 20 points and 11 rebounds.

While both teams were playing the back end of consecutive nights, the Sonics showed more energy early, breaking out to a 16-point halftime lead and extending it even further in the third quarter.