Sonics drop 10th in a row
DALLAS – Kevin Durant is learning NBA lessons the hard way.
With the Seattle SuperSonics headed toward another lopsided loss, Durant forced up a wild 3-pointer early in the third quarter. Coach P.J. Carlesimo, having seen enough, quickly yanked the prized rookie out of the game.
Just another rough moment in a difficult season for the young Seattle squad, which lost its 10th straight game, 111-96 to the Dallas Mavericks on Saturday night.
“I took some bad shots,” said Durant, who tied a season low with just six points. “I took a 3-pointer, and the coach told me to go to the basket. So I put it on myself that he took me out.”
Dirk Nowitzki scored 20 points and Devin Harris keyed a game-breaking run in the second quarter for Dallas, which won for the eighth time in nine games.
The Mavericks led by nine after one quarter and held a double-digit lead most of the game despite having not played since losing to Sacramento on Monday.
“We came out and played pretty well,” Mavericks forward Josh Howard said. “It was great to get back to a game. But we had the chance to work on things to get ready in case we make playoffs.”
Making the postseason seems like a crazy dream right now for the reeling Sonics.
Seattle’s 10 losses in a row matches the single-season franchise record. The Sonics (9-31) last dropped 10 in a row Dec. 12-29, 1968.
The longest losing streak in Seattle history is 13 games. The Sonics lost five in a row to end the 2006-2007 season, then dropped eight more to start this season.
It has been especially rocky the past three games, as the Sonics have lost by a combined 70 points.
“Nobody wants to accept losing,” Seattle’s Earl Watson said. “But it’s real. And it’s not easy.”
Wally Szczerbiak scored 26 points and Nick Collison had 16 points and 12 rebounds for Seattle.
Howard scored 17 points, Jason Terry added 15 and Jerry Stackhouse chipped in with 10 for the Mavericks.
Durant, who was playing his first pro game in the Lone Star State after starring last season at the University of Texas, shot 3 of 12. After his ill-advised 3-point attempt, Durant didn’t return to the game until late in the fourth.
“We were trying to keep a body on him,” Mavericks coach Avery Johnson said. “The plan was to play him physical and get in his space.”
Seattle, which last won Dec. 29 against Minnesota, trailed 39-34 with 7:09 left in the first half before the Mavericks built 22-point halftime lead.
Besides the long skid, the Sonics have also lost nine straight road games and 12 in a row to the Mavericks. Seattle last beat Dallas on Dec. 9, 2004.