Sonics finally able to smile after a game

MIAMI — Finally. The losing streak died at eight games and for once there was laughter, smiles and talk of endless possibilities inside the Sonics locker room after a game.

Nine games into the Kevin Durant era, the Sonics earned their first victory, beating the hapless Miami Heat 104-95 and spoiling Dwyane Wade's season debut before an announced sellout crowd of 19,600 at American Airlines Arena.

"It was just real, real emotional in here after the game," Durant said. "The first time you win anything at any level, whether it's high school, college, the pros, or whatever, it's special. You remember that one for the rest of your life."

For the first time this season, the Sonics didn't have to answer questions about fourth-quarter letdowns and Swiss-cheese defense. They took control early, built a 20-point halftime lead, withstood Miami's late rally and made big shots down the stretch.

"What's special about it is the way they did it," coach P.J. Carlesimo said. "We bottomed out last night [losing 103-76 at Orlando]. We had played so well and to play as disappointedly as we played [Tuesday] ...

"We got them up this morning and brought them in, which you don't normally do. Our guys never said boo. They bought in. They tried and came in and competed tonight."

Still the enthusiasm of the victory, which improved the Sonics to 1-8, was tempered afterward when Carlesimo said Luke Ridnour would miss the next two to four weeks. The Sonics point guard underwent an MRI earlier in the day that revealed a partially torn left-thigh muscle.

There's also a chance the Sonics will not have center Kurt Thomas for the game Friday at Atlanta because he aggravated a right hamstring injury.

Making his starting debut in place of injured Robert Swift (sore right knee), Thomas negated center Shaquille O'Neal, who collected three early fouls and finished with 10 points.

"I didn't want to tear it or pull it again, so they got me out of there," said Thomas, who played just 14 minutes overall and just two in the fourth quarter. He had nine rebounds, two assists and two points.

If Thomas is healthy, Carlesimo said he'll remain in the lineup. It's unlikely the Sonics coach will change anything after Seattle shot a season-high 49.3 percent from the field (37 of 75), including 10 of 19 on three-pointers.

Clearly, Seattle played its best game of the season while Miami (1-7) has fallen on hard times after winning the NBA title two years ago. Wade, who returned from offseason surgeries on his left knee and left shoulder, scored 15 points off the bench.

"I don't see a team ... really that they have anything at stake here," Miami coach Pat Riley said. "They come in. They play. They get beat. They go home. They go out into the night."

Given its troubles, the Heat was the perfect foil for the Sonics, who were playing the second game on their five-game trip. It hardly mattered that they struggled with turnovers again — committing 24 — and were unable to handle Miami's trapping defense.

Most important was how Seattle dominated from the start, racing to a 10-point lead (14-4) after four minutes and stretching the margin to 61-41 at halftime.

The Sonics did it with a balanced attack from Chris Wilcox (game-high 20 points and 10 rebounds), Damien Wilkins (19 points), Durant (18 points) and Delonte West (16 points).

When Miami made a run late in the fourth quarter and reduced Seattle's lead to 94-86 with 4:22 left, West drained a three-pointer near the corner to spark a 7-0 run.

"A shot like that kind of takes the air out of you a little bit," said West. "We're happy we got the win, but we're not satisfied. We're still 1-8. And we've got a lot to prove this year."

The victory leaves Golden State as the NBA's only winless team. It's also a small sign that maybe the Sonics aren't as bad as many skeptics had believed.

"We've grown up a lot in these past two months," Durant said. "We grew up a lot in past 24 hours, too."

Said West: "Take nothing away from Miami, they're better than their record. But we have to do this a few more times against some good teams, some winning teams, before anyone gives us credit for anything."

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