Hot Sonics hit the road

MILWAUKEE — No matter how faint it might appear, the suddenly resurgent Sonics at least can see the light at the end of the tunnel called success, and that is something of an achievement considering how this season started.

Seattle has won four of its past five games, including four in a row at home.

Meanwhile, their arduous stretch, in which they play 32 games in the first two months, is nearly at an end.

Only one serious hurdle remains — a five-game, seven-day road trip that begins tonight at Milwaukee's Bradley Center and concludes Monday in Memphis.

Those bookend games against a pair of middling opponents appear to be most winnable, while Chicago, Cleveland and Detroit — teams expected to contend for the Eastern Conference title — are sandwiched in the middle.

Deceiving looks

While the Bucks' 8-12 record isn't imposing, Milwaukee has traditionally been a house of horrors for the Sonics (10-11), who hope to reach .500 for just the second time this season.

Seattle has an 17-41 (.293) record in Milwaukee, its fourth lowest percentage at an opponent's home. Only Phoenix (24-70), the Los Angeles Lakers (28-76) and San Antonio (18-45) have been more difficult places to play.

Missing Milwaukee

Ray Allen, who played for the Bucks before his 2003 trade to Seattle, will miss the game tonight because of an injured right ankle.

"I have a lot of friends and family that were counting on seeing me. They're pretty disappointed that I won't be making it back that way," he said. "But the locker room there is so small, so it's probably better that I don't go to keep that distraction out of the locker room."

Notes

• The Sonics don't appear as if they'll make a serious bid for NBA scoring leader Allen Iverson. GM Rick Sund was unavailable Monday, but league sources indicated that Sacramento, Minnesota, Memphis and Denver are the most likely Western Conference destinations.

• The Sonics begin a series of viewing parties this week, beginning tonight at Tacoma's Latitude 84, then Wednesday at The RockSport in Seattle and Sharkey's in Sumner on Friday. For more information, log on to supersonics.com.

Seattle Times reporter Jayda Evans contributed to this report.

Percy Allen: 206-464-2278 or pallen@seattletimes.com