Finally, Sonics win one on the road

INDIANAPOLIS -- There was no shortage of heroes Wednesday as the Sonics snapped their franchise record 15-game road losing streak. Ray Allen led the way with 33 points and nine assists, as Seattle held off a dramatic bid in the final seconds for a 103-102 win over the Indiana Pacers at Conseco Fieldhouse.

Allen had plenty of help, as four of his teammates finished in double figures. Chris Wilcox scored 17, Mickael Gelabale had 12, while Earl Watson and Damien Wilkins came off the bench to score 10 apiece.

Seattle battled back from an eight-point deficit in the final minutes to tie the score at 100, when Andre Brown put in a layup and hit the following free throw to give a 101-100 with 54 seconds remaining.

Jamaal Tinsley, who led Indiana with 25 points and eight assists, gave the Pacers their final lead at 102-101 with a short bank-shot with 46.8 seconds remaining.

Allen then missed a 17-footer and Brown got the rebound and put it back up for the go-ahead basket with 23 seconds remaining.

He missed a free throw and Indiana took over. The Pacers, who played without injured star Jermaine O'Neal, then missed four shots in the remaining 23 seconds. That allowed Seattle to snap its five-game overall losing streak.

Brown had seven of his nine points in the fourth quarter, when Seattle outscored Indiana 31-23. In the final 23 seconds, Tinsley put up a short 7-footer that fell off the rim; Jeff Foster grabbed the rebound and missed from a foot with 2.7 seconds remaining. Danny Granger grabbed that rebound and also missed from a foot. Tinsley grabbed the rebound and his 2-foot attempt fell off the rim as the final buzzer sounded.

NBA record


43

Consecutive road losses by Sacramento, the league record, between 1990-91 and '91-92 seasons.

"That was some game," said a relieved Seattle coach Bob Hill. "Andre, who would of thunk it? I don't anticipate Andre scoring like he did. I put him in for defense and to try to neutralize [Ike] Diogu, and maybe tip some balls. We got a lot more than we expected from him."

For Allen, it was the fifth game that he has scored at least 29 points, since failing to be selected to the All-Star Game.

"I'd been thoroughly impressed with the way Ray has handled everything," Hill said. "He could've sulked, but he is playing for the team. I think everyone in the free world knows how good of a shooter he is and that he belongs in the All-Star Game. He's a pro from head to toe."

Allen said he has tried not to let the omission from the All-Star team bother him.

"Let me just say, I have a lot of people who are very supportive of all the accomplishments of my career, and I'll just have to wait for another shot next year," Allen said.

Allen said the big difference in this game, was Seattle didn't make big mistakes down the stretch.

"We had been in position to win in recent games, but just couldn't finish down the stretch," Allen said. "We've had turnovers, not rebounded well, and not executed on offense. Tonight down the stretch, we had guys contributing and really stepped up, especially in the rebounds."

"Earl [Watson] got some easy baskets down the stretch, and it was good for us that a lot of guys really picked it up down the stretch. Brown was awesome in that last quarter."

Seattle won despite being outrebounded 53-35, including a difference of 26-9 on the offensive boards. That difference equated to a 23-13 advantage for Indiana in second-chance points. However, Seattle outscored Indiana 58-34 in the paint.

Seattle shot over 55 percent (42 of 76), while holding Indiana under 40 percent (38 of 96). Indiana made 13 shots from beyond the arc, and Seattle had only four three-pointers.