BOSTON — When they left Seattle 12 days ago, the Sonics were a game back in the Northwest Division. As poorly as they played on a 2-4 trip that concluded Wednesday with a 113-100 victory against Boston, only a half game now separates them from the division lead.

"It's still early," Seattle point guard Luke Ridnour said. "We're right there. We just got to take care of home court. Everything is still possible. If we're getting wrote off already, that's crazy."

The Sonics still believe all their dreams are within reach. A second division title. A return to the playoffs. The Western Conference finals.

Their confidence, they will admit, was shaken after consecutive defeats at Memphis, Cleveland and Washington in which Seattle was outscored by a total of 93 points. The past three games have given them hope, and their 3-5 record looks a whole lot better than 2-6.

"We found a rotation that we like [and] a starting lineup that we like," Sonics coach Bob Weiss said. "I'm happy with that."

After a disappointing defeat the previous night in New Jersey, Ray Allen said the Sonics had to play a perfect game in order to win.

Apparently, perfection means career-high performances from Ridnour and Nick Collison, who each finished with double-double outings, Rashard Lewis putting on his best all-around display of the season, and Allen finishing with season highs in points (32) and rebounds.

"We know we are a better team than what we have displayed over the last week," said Allen, who sprained his left wrist in the third quarter but made 12 of 17 shots. "Every night is an opportunity to prove that, and tonight we got on the same page a little bit more than we have."

For a night, the Sonics did not have to answer questions about a porous defense that surrendered 100 points once again. The Celtics also shot 51.9 percent from the field.

Because of the defensive lapses, Weiss was unable to call the game Seattle's most complete effort of the season.

"I can't call it complete if a team shoots over 50 percent against us," he said. "We did a lot of good things. ... It was a complete game in that we got a lot of effort from a lot of different people."

For the first time this season, four Sonics scored at least 15 points.

Ridnour and Collison, the pair selected in the 2003 draft, were the catalysts.

"We've always said we need more than me and Ray," said Lewis, who finished with 22 points, eight rebounds, six assists and five steals. "When we get other guys coming on like that, it makes things so much easier."

Ridnour distributed a career-high-tying 13 assists, and despite an 0-for-6 shooting performance in the first half he finished with 15 points. Collison collected a career-high 13 rebounds, eight on the offensive glass, and scored 19 points on 9-of-12 shooting.

The change in the Sonics' fortunes occurred once they inserted Collison into the starting lineup Sunday.

"He's a workhorse," Ridnour said. "He doesn't need plays called to him. He gets offensive rebounds. He knows where to be on penetration. I know he knows to be ready for that ball, and that's big."

Collison helped close down the middle after Boston scored 20 points in the paint in the first quarter. He scored on hustle plays and held Raef LaFrentz to 14 points.

"I feel better, I'll admit that," Collison said.

Seattle built a 24-point lead (86-62) and survived an offensive onslaught from Boston, in which five players had double-digit scoring. Paul Pierce led the Celtics (3-5) with 22 points, and Ricky Davis scored 21.

"The important thing for us is to get back to .500 in these next two games and build from there," Ridnour said. "Last year when we went on the road early in the season, we used that to have a great season. And we can do the same with this trip.

"I think it's a character-building time for us on this trip. We found out a lot about ourselves ... The best thing is, there's 75 games left and we have a lot of time to get better."

Percy Allen: 206-464-2278 or pallen@seattletimes.com

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