Sonics derail against Spurs

Glancing over the Sonics' schedule, you have to wonder when.

When will this team finally get a home win?

"What are we, 0-6?" said forward Wally Szczerbiak after the Sonics lost 116-101 to San Antonio. "That's crazy. Normally at home you feed off the energy of the crowd and you get the home-court calls. You don't let teams just come in and beat you on your home court. We've got to figure out a way use the energy of this crowd as a sixth man and pull through in the end. We've been close, but we've got to figure out a way to make plays at the end of the game to get over that hump."

The Sonics trailed 101-97, after a smooth reverse layin by forward Nick Collison with 5:11 remaining in the game. But a turnover and a botched dunk coupled with four quick points from the Spurs' Tony Parker kept the Sonics from winning at KeyArena again.

The crowd of 14,186, weary of seeing the Sonics play only three solid quarters in home games, quickly dissipated into the chilly night, frustrated at the 0-6 streak at KeyArena. The mark is the second-worst in franchise history, tied with teams coached by Lenny Wilkens (1985), Tom Nissalke (1972) and Al Bianchi (1967-68). The longest home losing streak is nine, set in 1968 under Bianchi.

"I'm concerned, but as long as we keep playing well ... " said Sonics coach P.J. Carlesimo. "We played a lot better than we did Friday night [in the loss to New Jersey]. This was a very legit effort against a really good team. But we've got our work cut out for us in the next home game, too, because Orlando is very good and we've got them on a back-to-back. But we've also got some people coming in that, if we play this well, I'm not concerned."

Built to be an up-tempo team, the Sonics (2-12) eased into the Spurs' methodic style in the opening half and Kevin Durant regained his touch to help Seattle lead 18-11. Veteran Kurt Thomas started, adding stability inside as well as a strong body to make the Spurs' Tim Duncan work.

In the second quarter, Szczerbiak popped off the bench to score 20 points and the Sonics headed into the break tied at 64 points apiece with the defending champions. The reserve role is new for Szczerbiak, a former starter until suffering an ankle injury.

"It's not something I'm used to, by any means," said Szczerbiak, who led the Sonics with 27 points on 10-for-13 shooting. "I've been a starter my whole career in this league. But it's what I'm being asked to do right now, and I've got to figure out a way to help the team when I'm in there."

Yet what worked for the Sonics in the first half -- one turnover and good shot selection -- unraveled in the third quarter. Again.

Carlesimo thought about starting Szczerbiak in the second half but went with the original starters and that group committed two turnovers and missed five field goals as San Antonio built a 76-64 lead.

"We got them, not on the ropes because there's still 24 minutes to go, but you certainly don't want to spot them 10," Carlesimo said. "That was basically game. We kept working and climbing uphill and doing some things, but all of sudden we gave them the cushion they weren't able to get the entire [opening half]. We gave it to them in like two minutes."

Down the stretch, Parker (22 points) and Duncan (26 points) were grabbing rebounds and making baskets as the shot clock wound down to continue San Antonio's best start in franchise history (12-2). The Spurs join Orlando (12-3) as the only NBA teams with 12 victories.

"We had to work hard for this one," said Gregg Popovich, who had Seattle coach Carlesimo on his side as lead assistant the past five seasons, a connection that spiced up the matchup. "Their aggressiveness and focus was great. It took everything we could do to come out with a win."

Carlesimo gave the majority of the Sonics today off from practice, with players dealing with nagging injuries and having to fly to Los Angeles to play the Lakers on Tuesday. The Sonics return to face former Sonics Rashard Lewis and the Magic on Wednesday, which begins a five-game homestand against teams with a combined 36-28 record.

"The line is, we're young and we're getting better and this is a learning experience," Szczerbiak said. "But at the same time losses have to hurt, and they are starting to hurt."

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