Notebook | A decade removed, George Karl still has Sonics in mind

Denver coach George Karl is approaching a milestone.

In June, it will be 10 years since he coached the Sonics. Coincidentally, that's also the month when his former team's fate in the city will begin to be decided.

The Sonics and the City of Seattle will have their KeyArena lease case heard before Judge Marsha Peachman on June 16. She will decide whether owner Clay Bennett can break the arena lease to relocate the team to Oklahoma City.

Ten years ago, on June 17, 1998, Paul Westphal was named Karl's replacement. The Sonics announced May 26 that year that they would not renew Karl's contract. He coached the Sonics to a 61-21 record that season, losing 4-1 in a best-of-five series to the Los Angeles Lakers in the Western Conference semifinals.

"Every time I come up here I say I would be glad to talk or work with anybody," said Karl of reaching out to the grass-roots organization Save Our Sonics in pursuit of keeping the team in Washington. "I don't want to get into a fight with an owner, but I would be heartbroken if the Sonics leave Seattle."

When Karl was in Seattle, the Sonics were a constant threat in the playoffs and had back-to-back seasons of sellouts at KeyArena (1996-98).

"It doesn't seem that long," said Karl, who could coach his final game at KeyArena when the Nuggets visit April 6. "Even though there were battles and fights, we still won 55 or 60 games every year. I'd pray for another 55-, 60-win year. [And] this was a hot building. The court seemed to be closer and the energy was fun to be a part of."

Watson out

Sonics point guard Earl Watson missed his second consecutive game because of an upper respiratory infection. He did not show at the arena, and coach P.J. Carlesimo said he is uncertain of Watson's return.

Watson's absence gave Carlesimo another chance to start Luke Ridnour and further evaluate Mickael Gelabale along the perimeter.

Gelabale scored 16 points against the Nuggets.

DENVER
min		fgm-a	ftm-a	or-t	a	pf	pts
	Anthony		29:58	7-13	2-2	0-6	3	3	16

Martin	30:34	11-14	1-2	0-7	2	3	23
Camby	37:23	6-9	0-0	4-14	4	4	12
Carter	38:03	4-4	3-4	0-4	12	0	12
Iverson	35:18	13-18	2-3	0-5	6	2	31
Kleiza	23:53	6-12	1-2	2-3	3	1	15
Smith	23:23	6-9	0-0	1-2	1	1	15
Diawara	8:56	3-4	0-0	0-2	3	1	6
Hunter	6:16	2-3	0-1	0-3	0	0	4
TGreen	6:16	1-2	2-2	0-3	1	1	4
Totals		59-88	11-16	7-49	35	16	138

Percentages: FG .670, FT .688. Three-point goals: 9-17, .529 (Iverson 3-5, Smith 3-5, Kleiza 2-4, Carter 1-1, Anthony 0-1, Diawara 0-1). Team rebounds: 3. Team turnovers: 17 (19 PTS). Blocked shots: 7 (Camby 5, Anthony, Hunter). Turnovers: 17 (Iverson 6, Anthony 5, Smith 2, Camby, Carter, Kleiza, Martin). Steals: 13 (Carter 4, Anthony 2, Camby 2, Kleiza 2, Iverson, Martin, Smith). Technical fouls: Defensive three second, 5:42 second; Anthony, 0:27.2 second.

SEATTLE
min		fgm-a	ftm-a	or-t	a	pf	pts
JGreen	33:02	4-15	6-6	1-2	1	2	15
Wilcox	33:06	4-7	1-2	1-4	1	0	9
Petro	31:51	7-13	1-1	3-8	0	3	15
Ridnour	17:15	1-5	0-0	0-0	3	2	2
Durant	33:57	4-17	8-9	3-6	2	2	16
Collison	16:36	3-7	1-2	2-5	0	1	7
Wilkins	21:03	4-10	0-0	2-3	3	2	8
Gelabale	27:41	7-13	0-0	1-3	4	1	16
Marshall	8:56	1-5	2-2	4-7	0	0	4
Newble	5:31	1-4	0-0	0-0	0	0	2
Elson	5:31	1-5	0-0	2-3	1	1	2
Griffin	5:31	0-1	0-0	0-1	0	1	0
Totals		37-102	19-22	19-42	15	15	96

Percentages: FG .363, FT .864. Three-point goals: 3-11, .273 (Gelabale 2-2, J.Green 1-6, Newble 0-1, Marshall 0-2). Team rebounds: 8. Team turnovers: 16 (22 PTS). Blocked shots: 1 (Petro). Turnovers: 16 (Wilcox 6, Durant 3, Collison 2, Gelabale 2, Ridnour 2, Marshall). Steals: 10 (Durant 3, Collison 2, Petro 2, Griffin, Ridnour, Wilcox). Technical fouls: None.

Denver	31	33	36	38 — 138
Seattle	19	26	30	21 — 96

Attendance: 13,627 (17,072). Time: 2:02. Officials: Ken Mauer, Michael Smith, Sean Wright.