Sonics head home without a victory

MEMPHIS — The Sonics might not recover from this one.

A loss like Monday's 134-126 double-overtime heartbreaker against the Memphis Grizzlies tends to linger and fester into something poisonous. Especially if it marks the end of a deflating 0-for-5 trip, at the hands of a struggling team.

Sure, there were built-in excuses. The Sonics were playing without All-Star guard Ray Allen, who is expected to return Saturday from a bone bruise in his right ankle, and they were playing their fifth game in seven nights.

In their hearts, however, they believed they were better than the Grizzlies, who snapped a six-game losing streak and improved 6-19.

These days, however, the Sonics are inventing new ways to lose each night. Twice during this trip they were blown out by an average of 18.5 points, twice they lost games on the final play when they failed to get off a shot, and on Monday they gave away a game they desperately needed.

"Early in the season we lost a lot of games in several ways," said Earl Watson, who played for the Grizzlies for three seasons and finished with 17 points coming off the bench on Monday. "Guys hit big shots and just took over. Regardless of what people say, to win games you still need a little bit of luck, a little bit of things to go your way throughout the year."

The Sonics (10-16) thought they were destined for a victory after Rashard Lewis converted a last-second shot to force overtime.

They assumed they had secured the win in the first overtime when they led 110-105 with 14.5 seconds remaining.

Lewis opened the door to improbability after he missed the second of two free throws with Seattle leading 115-112 with 4.7 seconds remaining.

Memphis guard Chucky Atkins cashed in, racing downcourt as time was expiring to hit a 35-footer over Luke Ridnour and Mickael Gelabale to forced a second overtime.

"Sometimes it's better to be lucky than good," said Atkins, who finished with 28 points on 7-of-16 shooting and four three-pointers. "I just threw it up there."

At that point, body language told the whole story.

Lewis had the look of a man coming to grips with his sad reality.

"Honestly, when he took the shot I was getting ready to walk off the court because I knew he wasn't going to make it," he said.

The blood seemed to drain from Ridnour's face, who stared at the scoreboard in disbelief. Sonics coach Bob Hill tried to pump up his team on the sideline, but the game turned late in the second overtime when Memphis rookie Rudy Gay stripped Ridnour of the ball at the top of the key with 1:48 left.

The turnover culminated with Atkins passing back to Gay, who leaped and brought the ball to his knees before jamming a reverse dunk to put Memphis ahead 124-120.

On Seattle's next possession, Ridnour failed to get the ball inbounds as he threw high to Johan Petro, who believed the pass was intended for someone else and didn't make an attempt.

It was Seattle's 25th turnover and the sixth time this season that they've had at least 20.

"Coach has been talking about it the past couple of games, that we turn the ball over too much," Lewis said. "That's been keeping them [opponents] in games. ... Tonight, we had 20-something turnovers, and if we cut those in half, we easily win this game."

With the chants of "Ru-dy, Ru-dy" ringing in his ears from many of the 12,423 in attendance who stayed until the end, Gay made two free throws that gave him 17 points and gave Memphis a 126-120 lead.

Over the final 1:33, the Grizzlies exchanged free throws for jumpers, but unlike the Sonics, Memphis stretched its lead to eight and held on the win.

Lewis scored 36 points and collected 14 rebounds — both game highs — and at times Ridnour (22 points and 10 assists) was spectacular.

However, Memphis countered with Mike Miller, who had 29 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists. Pau Gasol added 15 points, Johnson 13 and Hakim Warrick 10.

"Right now, we're just at a point and time where we can't get one [win]," said Sonics forward Chris Wilcox, who finished with 14 points and six rebounds. "We got no luck at all. ... Hopefully things will get better from here. It can only get better because it can't get any worse."

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