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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Sonics prevail

Gregg Bell Associated Press

SEATTLE – Earl Watson scored a season-high 26 points and Wally Szczerbiak had 24, including the go-ahead score with 31 seconds remaining, to rally the Seattle SuperSonics to a 108-101 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies on Tuesday night.

The Sonics, who were without flu-ridden rookie star Kevin Durant, roared back from a 19-point deficit early in the second half to win for the first time in four games against Memphis this season.

Rudy Gay scored 23 points and Hakim Warrick had 22 for the Grizzlies, who lost their 10th consecutive road game and are 1-6 since trading star Pau Gasol to the Los Angeles Lakers on Feb. 1.

Gay was just 9 for 23 from the field and shot airballs on two long jump shots in the final minute, leaving him wincing and tapping the top of his head in frustration.

After the Sonics blew three chances to break a tie at 101 – with rookie Jeff Green’s missed breakaway layup and 20-footer sandwiched around Delonte West’s throwaway of a fast break – Memphis’ Jason Collins missed two free throws with 50 seconds left.

Szczerbiak then drove the baseline and leaned into Collins for a three-point play that put Seattle up 104-101 with 31 seconds remaining.

Gay then missed everything but the lower part of the backboard on a long jump shot. Watson made two free throws with 17 seconds left to seal his big night and the win.

The Sonics looked lost on offense for three quarters without Durant, who has led them in scoring 26 times in the 50 games he’s played. Durant averages 19.4 points and normally gets almost all of Seattle’s set plays run through him. Szczerbiak got most of those instead.

The Sonics had allowed a season-high 68 points in the first half the last time they played Memphis.