Notebook | Sonics players surprised by margin in Okla. vote

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. — The whopping margin of victory in the vote to make $97 million improvements to the Ford Center in Oklahoma City caused a few Sonics to pause after Tuesday's 100-97 defeat to the Detroit Pistons.

Most players expected the measure, which will extend a one-cent sales tax, was going to succeed, but few believed it would receive 61.9 percent of the vote.

The overwhelming civic support gives Sonics owner Clay Bennett ammunition as he attempts to move the team to the Sooner state before the start of the 2008-09 season. His relocation bid will be decided at the NBA Board of Governors meeting April 17-18.

NBA spokesman Tim Frank said the league had no comment on Tuesday's ballot measure.

A few players, however, believe the city of Seattle is in dire straits in trying to keep its NBA team.

"Right now, it doesn't look good, but then anything can happen," said guard Luke Ridnour, who grew up in Blaine. "Most guys on the team don't have an opinion one way or the other. We're focused on basketball and controlling what we can control.

"All I've ever known is the Sonics being in Seattle, so it would be a little strange for me if they're not there."

The city of Seattle is suing the Sonics to play games at KeyArena until their lease expires in 2010. The court case is scheduled to begin June 16.

"It affects me more than other guys," said Nick Collison, who has a house on Queen Anne. "I've been living primarily in Seattle for about five years.

"Personally it would be a big move if we have to move, but that's part of playing in the NBA."

Stuckey's numbers

Detroit rookie Rodney Stuckey, who played for Kentwood High School in Covington, played his first game against the Sonics. He finished with five points on 2-for-4 shooting, four assists and two rebounds.

He missed the first 25 games of the season, including the Pistons' game in Seattle on Nov. 11, because of a broken left hand.

"It was just another game," Stuckey said. "It felt good."

Note

• C Robert Swift underwent successful surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his right knee Thursday. Dr. Stephen Lombardo performed the surgery in Los Angeles.

SEATTLE
min		fgm-a	ftm-a	or-t	a	pf	pts
Green	36:06	6-14	1-1	0-2	1	4	15
Wilcox	39:09	9-18	2-2	3-10	4	4	20
Petro	18:39	3-4	2-2	2-10	0	4	8
Watson	38:25	8-14	7-8	0-2	7	4	23
Durant	38:35	7-14	6-8	1-7	5	0	20
Collison	21:05	2-2	0-0	2-6	0	4	4
Wilkins	12:30	1-5	1-2	2-2	1	1	3
Elson	3:25	0-1	1-2	1-2	0	2	1
Ridnour	9:35	0-4	0-0	0-1	0	1	0
Gelabale	9:25	0-3	0-0	1-1	0	1	0
Marshall	13:07	1-2	0-0	0-4	0	1	3
Totals		37-81	20-25	12-47	18	26	97

Percentages: FG .457, FT .800. Three-point goals: 3-11, .273 (Green 2-4, Marshall 1-2, Durant 0-1, Gelabale 0-1, Ridnour 0-1, Watson 0-2). Team rebounds: 10. Team turnovers: 20 (8 PTS). Blocked shots: 3 (Durant, Gelabale, Marshall). Turnovers: 18 (Durant 3, Petro 3, Wilcox 3, Gelabale 2, Watson 2, Collison, Elson, Green, Marshall, Wilkins). Steals: 5 (Collison, Durant, Green, Watson, Wilcox). Technical fouls: None.

DETROIT
min		fgm-a	ftm-a	or-t	a	pf	pts
Prince	38:53	8-17	6-7	2-4	3	2	24
McDyess	21:53	1-4	2-2	1-3	0	4	4
Wallace	23:38	3-8	0-0	2-6	2	3	7
Billups	32:10	4-9	8-8	0-1	9	2	20
Hamilton	35:37	5-19	7-8	2-2	4	3	18
Maxiell	29:14	2-7	4-6	2-9	0	3	8
Afflalo	4:07	1-1	0-0	2-2	1	1	2
Stuckey	15:50	2-4	1-2	0-2	4	1	5
Johnson	20:40	1-3	3-4	5-8	0	4	5
Hayes	9:07	2-4	0-0	0-2	0	0	4
Herrmann	0:35	0-0	0-0	0-0	0	0	0
Dixon	8:16	1-3	0-0	0-1	0	0	3
Totals		30-79	31-37	16-40	23	23	100

Percentages: FG .380, FT .838. Three-point goals: 9-19, .474 (Billups 4-7, Prince 2-3, Wallace 1-2, Dixon 1-3, Hamilton 1-3, Hayes 0-1). Team rebounds: 7. Team turnovers: 12 (14 PTS). Blocked shots: 10 (Maxiell 3, Wallace 3, Johnson 2, Hayes, Prince). Turnovers: 12 (Billups 4, Hamilton 2, Johnson 2, Maxiell, McDyess, Stuckey, Wallace). Steals: 10 (Billups 5, Johnson 2, Prince, Stuckey, Wallace). Technical fouls: Maxiell, 0:54.2 second.

Seattle	41	13	24	19 — 97
Detroit	28	25	24	23 — 100

Attendance: 22,076 (22,076). Time: 2:28. Officials: Joe Forte, Derek Richardson, Zach Zarba.