Originally published Tuesday, January 15, 2008 at 12:00 AM
Sonics fall just short against Lakers
The Sonics' future was on full display in the final two quarters of a see-saw affair with the Los Angeles Lakers on Monday. There was Kevin Durant...
Seattle Times staff reporter
The Sonics' future was on full display in the final two quarters of a see-saw affair with the Los Angeles Lakers on Monday.
There was Kevin Durant, knocking down a three-pointer late in the fourth quarter. And there was Jeff Green, harassing Kobe Bryant into an missed three-pointer and helping to create a turnover that forced overtime in front of a crowd of 13,452 at KeyArena.
In the extra period, however, the Sonics' prized rookies faltered just slightly as Bryant scored the game-winning points and denied Durant the chance to retaliate in a 123-121 defeat that extended Seattle's losing streak to seven games.
"You never want to lose, but I'm encouraged," Durant said. "If we play like this the rest of the season, we'll win games. But we got to play like this. We got to continue this. We can't go back to the way we were playing.
"This was fun. Even though we lost, this was exciting."
It was the best the Sonics had played since a Dec. 21 victory against Toronto. Seattle had seven players scoring in double figures, including Nick Collison with 24 points, Durant with 19 and Wally Szczerbiak with 18.
But as good as they were, Bryant — who was battling an upper respiratory infection — was better.
With the Lakers missing Andrew Bynum, their third-leading scorer who will miss the next eight weeks with a sprained knee, Bryant shouldered the scoring load early. He took 11 of Los Angeles' first 27 shots and 18 of the first 50 as the Lakers led 64-62 at halftime.
Said Szczerbiak: "He's Kobe. There's a reason why he's the best player in the NBA."
During his pregame address, Sonics coach P.J. Carlesimo had predicted a big scoring night from Bryant.
All signs indicated he was due for a game in which he dusted off the Superman cape and carried Los Angeles to victory, like he has done so often in his career.
Carlesimo was more than willing to surrender a game-high 48 points to Bryant — as long as Seattle held the other Lakers in check and the Sonics were able to break out of a six-game scoring slump.
![]()
Luke Ridnour — who returned from a four-game layoff and had 11 assists and 10 points — and Collison got the offense going. Chris Wilcox, who had missed the past four games, had 12 points and nine rebounds. Kurt Thomas had 16 points and nine rebounds, and Green chipped in 14 points and seven rebounds.
"Our three bigs were exceptional," Carlesimo said. "I thought Kurt, Nick and Chris were all really, really good. The bench came in and really contributed. It was a heck of an effort. It's really encouraging."
The Sonics hoped the Lakers, who played Sunday night, would tire in the end. But Los Angeles never went away.
"We got to handle the end-game situations a little better," Carlesimo said. "Defensively we tried to compete, but we had a couple critical mistakes."
The overtime period ended much like the fourth quarter, on a play with Bryant dribbling along the perimeter and Green blocking his path to the basket. Bryant waited until about six seconds remained before making a move left and elevating over Green for an 18-foot jumper with 4.3 seconds left.
"He's one of the best players and he can go either way," Green said. "The first shot in the fourth quarter, he missed. The second shot, he didn't. That's the only difference in the play. He can make those shots. He's made them before.
"In the fourth quarter I contested a little more, and this time he got it off without a hand in his face like it was in the fourth quarter. Hopefully, I get another chance again and hopefully, it doesn't end like that."
The Sonics had a chance to either extend or win the game with a three-pointer. But Szczerbiak was unable to get the ball to Durant with an inbound pass because of Bryant's harassing defense. Thomas received the pass and dished to Collison, whose midrange jumper hit the side of the rim and bounced away.
"It felt good, it just didn't go in," Collison said.
Percy Allen: 206-464-2278 or pallen@seattletimes.com
| Kobe and Lakers' winning ways | |||||||
| The Lakers have yet to lose in the new year, and much of that can be attributed to Kobe Bryant. The All-Star guard is averaging 40.7 points over the past three games. | |||||||
| Date | Opponent | Result | FGM-A | FTM-A | Reb | Ast | Pts |
| Jan. 14 | at Seattle | W, 123-121 | 21-44 | 4-7 | 2 | 2 | 48 |
| Jan. 13 | Memphis | W, 100-99 | 10-25 | 14-15 | 3 | 4 | 37 |
| Jan. 11 | Milwaukee | W, 110-105 | 12-25 | 8-8 | 5 | 7 | 37 |
| Jan. 9 | at New Orleans | W, 109-80 | 8-16 | 1-2 | 7 | 7 | 19 |
| Jan. 8 | at Memphis | W, 117-101 | 8-22 | 8-11 | 3 | 6 | 25 |
| Jan. 6 | Indiana | W, 112-96 | 8-21 | 8-8 | 2 | 6 | 26 |
| Jan. 4 | Philadelphia | W, 124-93 | 5-9 | 5-5 | 6 | 4 | 15 |
Copyright © 2008 The Seattle Times Company
UPDATE - 10:45 PM
NBA | Shawn Marion is likely bound for Dallas
Celtics sign forward Rasheed Wallace
NBA | John Kuester reportedly nears agreement to coach Pistons
Steve Kelley: Hatred for the NBA runs deep, but don't take it out on the players
NBA | Phil Jackson returning to L.A.

Gen. David Petraeus: Iraq and Afghanistan Wars
Watch highlights of General David Petraeus discussing the Iraq and Afghanistan War at the Global Leadership Series sponsored by the World Affairs Council.
Entertainment | Top Video | World | Offbeat Video | Sci-Tech
nwjobs

Post a comment

Michelle Goodman blogs about work/life balance.
Tax tips for new independent professionals
Post a comment
nwhomes

Find a new home or condo that fits your lifestyle.
Search New Developments
Builder Directory
- Key lawmakers warn of Boeing no-strike ultimatum
- Hemmed-in Ballard house to rise above
- UW Football | Tailbacks David Freeman, Brandon Johnson ineligible
- US officials eye North Korea in cyber attack
- Nickels gives City Light chief $40,000 bonus
- Coffee City | New "sexpresso" stand coming to Ballard
- Drunken man shocks Spain with his generosity
- Trees vs. houses: Narrow, leafy street is last chance for two Madrona homes waiting to be moved
- Health-plan costs soar for individuals
- Concert review | "Idol" Top 10 give fans a fun, fresh show
- Mass. files lawsuit against federal marriage law
884 - Key lawmakers warn of Boeing no-strike ultimatum
594 - Palin's lawyer: no legal troubles driving her out
276 - Health-plan costs soar for individuals
220 - Mariners game thread, July 8
186 - Judges strike broad ban on Washington's Plan B rules
157 - Teen charged in pit bull attacks ordered held after pleading not guilty
131 - Sheriff's Office: Man not armed when fatally shot by deputy
111 - Trees vs. houses: Narrow, leafy street is last chance for two Madrona homes waiting to be moved
59 - Wakamatsu keeping the faith
47
- Hemmed-in Ballard house to rise above
- Key lawmakers warn of Boeing no-strike ultimatum
- Seattle-area homebuilder losing projects to foreclosure
- Health-plan costs soar for individuals
- Rick Steves' Europe | Beware of new and classic travel scams
- Happy Hour | Ruth's Chris has super rib-eye sliders and quality cocktails
- All You Can Eat | "Top Chef": Seattle chefs tapped for Bravo knife fight in Vegas!
- All You Can Eat | Oceanaire files bankruptcy, shutters Seattle, former chefs weigh in
- Trees vs. houses: Narrow, leafy street is last chance for two Madrona homes waiting to be moved
- Nickels gives City Light chief $40,000 bonus










