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76ers enjoy rout of SuperSonics

Associated Press The Spokesman-Review

Andre Iguodala could tell in warmups that Samuel Dalembert had extra energy for Seattle, dunking the ball “like 10 times in a row,” and playing with enthusiasm.

All Dalembert wanted to do was “get the fun back.”

Dalembert and the 76ers are having plenty of fun as one of the hottest teams in the NBA.

Dalembert matched a season high with 22 points and grabbed 13 rebounds to lead Philadelphia to its eighth straight home victory, 117-83 over the Seattle SuperSonics on Friday night.

“It’s been a little while since I had fun. It’s been a little while since I enjoyed myself,” Dalembert said. “I’m just trying to go back to that same way no matter what happens. Winning is our goal, but sometimes you have to try to look for the fun.”

Iguodala and Thaddeus Young added 18 points apiece for Philadelphia, which has long forgotten about a 5-13 start. Chris Wilcox scored 20 points and Kevin Durant scored 10 of his 14 points in the first quarter for the SuperSonics, playing the fourth game of a seven-game road trip.

“We did a very poor job as coaches, players, all of us,” Seattle coach P.J. Carlesimo said. “That was just a terrible effort tonight.”

Gregoire wants NBA in Seattle

Gov. Chris Gregoire said she’s working to keep the NBA in Seattle, although it’s becoming more likely that it won’t be the current SuperSonics.

Gregoire made her comments a day after the city of Seattle unveiled a $300 million plan to renovate KeyArena and a group of Seattle-area businessmen stepped forward as potential team owners. The plan calls for $75 million from the state in existing taxes. While some key legislators dismissed the proposal on Thursday, Gregoire said the issue is not dead for this legislative session.

Gregoire also said she talked with Sonics’ owner Clay Bennett after Oklahoma City voters overwhelmingly approved paying for improvements to the Ford Center. Bennett made it “abundantly clear” that the Sonics are not for sale, but Gregoire is holding out hope for another franchise that could keep the Sonics’ name.