Sonics Notebook | Rookie gets Green light to start; Wilkins sits

Sonics rookie Jeff Green received his first NBA start on Saturday.

Green replaced Damien Wilkins at the small forward position. Wilkins started 29 games this season, averaging 11.5 points and 3.8 rebounds.

"It's not that Damien hasn't played well," said Sonics coach P.J. Carlesimo. "You could probably make the point that he's been one of our two most consistent guys all year, if you consider both ends of the floor."

Green will remain a starter long-term as he's evaluated with fellow rookie Kevin Durant. Wilkins understands the decision, and he said the timing is probably because of his play in the month of December.

Wilkins averaged 7.4 points and 2.6 rebounds in 12 games heading into the Minnesota matchup.

"It's kind of hard to believe because I know I haven't been playing well lately," said Wilkins, who learned of the swap before shoot-around Saturday. "I take full responsibility for that. But at the same time, that's what he [Carlesimo] says and that's what I'll believe. Whatever works and helps us win games and be a better team, I'm all for it."

This is Carlesimo's ninth lineup this season. Wilkins and Durant had been the mainstays.

The staff wants to see different looks with the young roster, and Carlesimo said more changes will come. The next move will most likely be at point guard, but Luke Ridnour (strained left quad) and Delonte West (plantar fasciitis in his right foot) haven't stayed healthy long enough to make a change.

Ridnour has missed the past two games because of injury, saying he did feel "a lot better" on Saturday. But he was unable to do much at the morning shoot-around.

One player who won't receive a start soon is veteran forward Wally Szczerbiak, who's started 386 games in his eight NBA seasons. Szczerbiak is averaging 12.3 points and 2.2 rebounds with the Sonics.

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

MINNESOTA
min		fgm-a	ftm-a	or-t	a	pf	pts
Gomes	23:26	3-8	4-6	0-2	0	3	10
Richard	19:17	2-3	0-0	3-8	1	3	4
Jefferson	32:42	7-17	3-4	5-8	1	2	17
Brewer	29:18	3-7	0-0	1-4	2	2	6
Telfair	29:53	5-12	1-4	0-1	6	1	12
Smith	23:46	5-13	2-4	0-4	2	2	12
Walker	17:18	4-14	0-0	3-5	1	0	10
McCants	21:16	2-8	0-0	1-5	3	3	6
Green	8:18	0-2	0-0	1-1	0	2	0
Jaric	18:07	4-8	1-2	1-3	2	0	9
Doleac	6:35	1-1	0-0	0-3	0	0	2
Buckner	10:04	1-1	0-0	1-1	0	2	2
Totals		37-94	11-20	16-45	18	20	90

Percentages: FG .394, FT .550. Three-point goals: 5-15, .333 (Walker 2-5, McCants 2-7, Telfair 1-1, Gomes 0-1, Green 0-1). Team rebounds: 11. Team turnovers: 9 (14 PTS). Blocked shots: 3 (Jefferson, McCants, Richard). Turnovers: 9 (Gomes 2, Jefferson 2, McCants 2, Brewer, Doleac, Richard). Steals: 9 (McCants 4, Brewer 2, Gomes, Richard, Telfair). Technical fouls: Bench, 5:13 third.

SEATTLE
min		fgm-a	ftm-a	or-t	a	pf	pts
Green	36:26	8-14	2-5	1-5	1	3	18
Wilcox	28:51	7-11	0-0	2-11	1	2	14
Thomas	23:26	1-6	0-0	4-15	1	1	2
Watson	20:59	3-6	2-2	0-1	6	3	10
Durant	11:51	3-6	0-0	0-0	2	0	6
Collison	24:34	3-6	2-2	1-4	4	3	8
Szczerbiak	28:27	6-10	4-8	0-4	3	0	18
West	25:01	4-6	1-2	1-4	7	0	10
Wilkins	25:29	5-11	0-0	0-3	3	2	12
Petro	7:28	1-2	0-0	0-3	0	1	2
Gelabale	7:28	3-4	2-3	0-0	0	0	9
Totals		44-82	13-22	9-50	28	15	109

Percentages: FG .537, FT .591. Three-point goals: 8-19, .421 (Watson 2-3, Szczerbiak 2-6, Wilkins 2-6, Gelabale 1-1, West 1-2, Durant 0-1). Team rebounds: 7. Team turnovers: 12 (15 PTS). Blocked shots: 8 (Green 3, Durant, Szczerbiak, Thomas, Wilcox, Wilkins). Turnovers: 12 (Green 3, West 3, Wilcox 3, Collison, Gelabale, Wilkins). Steals: 6 (Thomas 2, Durant, Gelabale, Watson, West). Technical fouls: None.

Minnesota	30	16	13	31 -- 90
Seattle	21	36	27	25 -- 109

Attendance: 14,038 (17,072). Time: 2:08. Officials: Ron Garretson, Jason Phillips, Mark Ayotte.