Sonics cruise to win

SEATTLE – Sitting 10 games less than .500, Seattle’s Nick Collison didn’t feel he had the right to lightly regard the injury-depleted Milwaukee Bucks.

So Collison led by example, with an energetic first quarter that helped ignite a rare blowout victory for the SuperSonics on Friday night.

Ray Allen scored 21 points and Collison recorded his fourth double-double in the last five games with 13 points and 16 rebounds in Seattle’s 99-72 rout of the undermanned Bucks.

“We’re not in any position I think to be unmotivated. Our record isn’t good enough,” Collison said. “During the course of a game there can be slippage, but tonight we avoided it.”

Milwaukee dropped to 1-4 without leading scorers Michael Redd and Mo Williams in the lineup, who combine for 45 points per game.

Milwaukee was also without starters Charlie Villanueva and Bobby Simmons, leaving the Bucks fielding a lineup that got overwhelmed in the first half and never recovered.

Ruben Patterson led Milwaukee with 16 points.

“Right now we are in a position to scrape and claw for everything,” Milwaukee coach Terry Stotts said. “Our team is what we have right now and we have to compete.”

Allen played just 28 minutes, scoring 16 points in the first half. Reserve Damien Wilkins added 16, as Seattle’s reserves outscored its starters 50-49.

Seattle controlled the first 24 minutes, leading by as many as 26, knocking down open jumpers and scoring at the rim, often unchallenged.

Allen scored 10 in the first 7:36 as the Sonics took command closing the first quarter on a 13-5 run and opening a 14-point advantage.

The Sonics then sprinted to their biggest lead of the half – 51-25 – with a 13-3 run in the second quarter. The Bucks went 5 minutes with just one free throw, watching numerous shots bounce around the rim, but fail to drop.

Milwaukee’s 29 first-half points was its lowest output of the season, but off the franchise record of just 22 points in a half on Feb. 21, 2003, against Seattle. The Bucks shot 29 percent in the first half and 33 for the game.

“We had a little bit of a breather there,” Seattle coach Bob Hill said. “Every game we’ve played this year seems like it’s either not close at all or close. I thought that everyone honestly played well.

“The players deserve a win like this because it’s been such a tough time so far this year.”

Much to Hill’s pleasure, the Sonics didn’t sit on their halftime lead and let the Bucks gain any measure of confidence at getting back into the game.

Brian Skinner let out an “Oh!” when Wilkins slipped backdoor for a two-handed dunk with 5 minutes left in the third, pushing Seattle’s lead to 26.

A couple of minutes later, the lead reached 30 and Seattle was easily on the way to its biggest victory since a 30-point rout of Sacramento in November 2004.

Luke Ridnour added 13 and Andre Brown – who earlier this week signed a second 10-day contract with Seattle – added a career-high 10.

“We need more nights like this,” Wilkins said.

Sonics 99, Bucks 72

Percentages: FG .330, FT .650. 3-Point Goals: 1-14, .071 (Ilyasova 1-4, Greer 0-1, Boykins 0-2, Noel 0-3, Bell 0-4). Team Rebounds: 13. Team Turnovers: 15 (16 PTS). Blocked Shots: 7 (Bogut 2, Skinner 2, Gadzuric, Greer, Patterson). Turnovers: 14 (Bogut 3, Patterson 3, Gadzuric 2, Boykins 2, Bell, Noel, Skinner, Hodge). Steals: 9 (Bogut 2, Noel 2, Patterson 2, Skinner 2, Ilyasova). Technical Fouls: None.

Percentages: FG .488, FT .706. 3-Point Goals: 5-10, .500 (Allen 4-5, Ridnour 1-2, Collison 0-1, Watson 0-1, Wilks 0-1). Team Rebounds: 8. Team Turnovers: 18 (14 PTS). Blocked Shots: 7 (Collison 2, Ridnour, Watson, Wilcox, Gelabale, Brown). Turnovers: 17 (Collison 4, Petro 3, Ridnour 3, Watson 3, Wilcox 2, Allen, Brown). Steals: 10 (Watson 3, Wilkins 3, Collison 2, Allen, Ridnour).

A – 16,249 (17,072). T – 1:59.