Short-handed Sonics fall short to Brandon Roy's Blazers

PORTLAND — Before the All-Star break, Sonics coach P.J. Carlesimo fretted about having too many players. And after it?

Barely enough.

Seattle faced Portland with 10 players in uniform, the roster having changed a second time after another trade. The outcome was the same as when the Sonics had fuller rosters, however — a 92-88 loss to the Trail Blazers.

Portland ended a five-game losing streak with the victory, which also was its third consecutive win against Seattle at the Rose Garden dating to last season.

The Sonics were down 87-84 following an emphatic Jeff Green put-back dunk off his own miss with 1:39 remaining in the game. But missed opportunities and five made free throws by the Blazers down the stretch led to the loss for Seattle.

Reserve Travis Outlaw and All-Star guard Brandon Roy, a Seattle native, finished with 19 points apiece. Roy also had a career-high 14 rebounds.

Rookie Kevin Durant led Seattle with 20 points.

"We're a different team, especially after the trade," said guard Earl Watson, who had 15 points and nine assists, but also had five turnovers. "We lost players that were key down the stretch, especially in winning games. We have to learn to win again as a different group."

The Blazers outscored the Sonics 28-16 in the second quarter to build a 51-41 lead and secure initial control of the game. The Sonics were 5 for 21 from the field in the quarter, getting offensive production off three three-pointers by guard Luke Ridnour.

Normally the second quarter is when Carlesimo calls on veteran Wally Szczerbiak for a boost from the bench. But Szczerbiak, the team's second leading scorer (13.1 points per game) and Delonte West were involved in the blockbuster 11-player trade with Chicago and Cleveland on Thursday that brought three soon-to-be expiring contracts to Seattle in forwards Donyell Marshall (Cleveland) and Adrian Griffin (Chicago) and guard Ira Newble (Cleveland).

Szczerbiak, who turns 31 on March 5, received his playoff wish and will play for the postseason-hopeful Cavaliers along with West.

A three-pointer and a layin by Durant, and the Sonics trailed 69-66 with 40 seconds to go in the third quarter. Later, rookie Green made a bank shot and two free throws to give the Sonics a 74-73 lead with 9:21 remaining in the fourth.

"Earl was unbelievable," Carlesimo said. "He did a hell of a job. A lot of guys played well, we just didn't shoot well enough and we weren't strong enough. We needed to be a little more aggressive in the fourth quarter."

Carlesimo started Johan Petro in place of veteran Kurt Thomas, who was shipped to San Antonio in a move that brought former Sonic Brent Barry and little-used post Francisco Elson to Seattle. Elson has passed his physical and is eligible to play, but Carlesimo doesn't believe that he will tonight against the Blazers.

Newble, Marshall, and Griffith are expected over the weekend.

The Blazers (29-25) will play the Sonics (14-39) at 7:30 tonight at KeyArena.

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