Sonics blow another big lead in loss to Grizzlies

He was told no one on Memphis' team could guard him.

Not that it gave Sonics rookie Kevin Durant any false confidence, but it did make those 14 misses sting a little more. Especially because some were against the player who spoke the words, second-year Grizzlies forward Rudy Gay.

Taking over the defensive coverage of Durant for Mike Miller late in the game, Gay was Memphis' go-to player and a solid defensive stopper. Durant tried to mimic the role for his team, but fell short along with his teammates. Again.

The Sonics' 105-98 loss to Memphis was their fifth straight, one short of the worst start to a season in team history.

Durant made two free throws to pull Seattle to 100-98 with 48.9 seconds remaining. But Memphis guard Kyle Lowry grabbed an offensive rebound after his own miss and nailed a three-pointer with 11.3 seconds left that zapped Seattle's chance to win its first game.

Instead, Memphis collected its first win in front of 10,761 at KeyArena.

"It was a great defensive effort by them [Miller and Gay], but I've got to knock down those shots that I usually hit and get to the free-throw line a little bit more," said Durant, who said he's never started a season 0-5 before. "My teammates did a great job of keeping me up, telling me to keep going and keep being aggressive.

"I just hate the fact that we're losing. I hate that. But we've got to learn from it and each game we've got to come out like we have -- playing hard, playing defense -- it's just a couple of possessions that we've let down."

Durant hit all 10 of his free throws (eight in the fourth quarter), but was just 3 for 17 from the field, finishing with 17 points.

Gay led the Grizzlies with a game-high 25 points and 10 rebounds with three blocked shots -- giving the Sonics their worst start since the 1969-70 season when the team was 0-6 to open the season.

Although the game was close at the end and it can be repeated that the Sonics can't finish, it was actually the third quarter that caused the most damage. Leading 57-49 at halftime, with only seven turnovers, Seattle committed seven alone in the third quarter. Memphis converted those into 13 points and outscored the Sonics 38-24 in the quarter on 58-percent shooting.

After the game, Sonics coach P.J. Carlesimo pointed at the Grizzlies' third-quarter total on his stat sheet and summed it up: "That's a joke."

In the fourth quarter, the Sonics held the Grizzlies (1-2) to 18 points, but still turned the ball over in critical situations. Forward Damien Wilkins had two turnovers in two minutes that stopped the Sonics' flow.

"You have to make plays when it matters and we didn't," Carlesimo said. "I keep saying it, but our guys, they're trying. They fall behind and they keep coming back. There are some other teams in the league that are 0-4, 0-5, too, and they've got veterans who've been together longer than our guys, so I'm not upset with our guys' effort."

It was the Sonics' third game in four days, which may have led to some players leaving their shots short. Carlesimo is giving the team the day off today, but some players will still be in the gym working out.

Carlesimo said he's going to tweak his starting lineup, but didn't get into specifics, saying he'd let the players know at shootaround on Friday before they play Utah.

The team needs more muscle inside, but forward Chris Wilcox and Durant should be safe to remain in the lineup. Watson might be susceptible to being benched, along with Wilkins. Center Robert Swift's availability depends on how his surgically repaired right knee continues to respond and when veteran Kurt Thomas (right hamstring) can return.

"The third quarters seem to bite us in the butt," forward Wally Szczerbiak said. "We gave up a lot of points and let them back in the game and it's something we can't do. Third quarters are big. That is when the good teams really turn it up. Hopefully we can find a way to get a little bit better and that will set the tone in the fourth, too."

Jayda Evans: 206-464-2067 or jevans@seattletimes.com