Ridnour to make return tonight

Point guard Luke Ridnour will return to the Sonics' starting lineup tonight at KeyArena against Golden State.

Ridnour, who has a herniated cervical disk, hasn't played since leaving the Sonics' March 4 win over Charlotte because of increasing stiffness in his neck. He went through a series of treatments, including wearing a brace, and returned to practice Thursday.

"It feels a lot better," said Ridnour, who has missed the past five games. "The range of motion is back to almost 100 percent, so that's the big key for me."

Another pain in the neck for Ridnour while dealing with the injury has been having to wear a suit on the bench. Ridnour, who prefers jeans and T-shirts, had to borrow a suit from his grandfather's collection when the NBA instated a dress code last season.

"That's why I don't like to miss games," said Ridnour, who has since bought his own attire.

Coach Bob Hill made the decision to start Ridnour after a brief conversation with reserve point guard Earl Watson, who encouraged the coach to make the move. Other reasons Hill made the change are because Ridnour plays better as a starter and the coach wants the team to get back to its normal rotation.

The point guard's return comes for a pivotal back-to-back set for the Sonics, who have lost four games in a row but get a chance to make up ground in the chase for the Western Conference's eighth — and final — playoff spot with games against the Warriors today and at Portland on Sunday. The Sonics are one of seven teams trying to get the last spot, but they have the worst record (25-39) of those teams.

Said Hill of the Sonics' apparent slim chances: "When we're eliminated, we'll be eliminated. If we catch fire and we start winning some games ... we'll turn this miserable season into something we can hang our hats on."

A turnaround could depend on getting better at closing out games. In a four-point loss to Detroit on Tuesday, guard Ray Allen scored 14 points late but made poor decisions and missed key baskets down the stretch while forward Rashard Lewis shot 0 for 2 in the fourth quarter.

Hill said the team held a "cerebral practice" Friday to work on late-game scenarios.

"The game is so much different, just watching it," Ridnour said of viewing games from the bench. "I saw how close we really are to winning a lot of games. Just the little things we do and the shots we take, really, I think we're getting close."

Getting hippy

Sonics center Johan Petro got an earful from Hill during a timeout in the Detroit loss.

After a powerful dunk, Petro gave a one-pump pelvic thrust to the crowd, which neither Detroit nor Hill appreciated for its artistic creativity. In the past, Petro has done a shoulder shimmy or fist-pump after energetic plays.

Hill said a team that has won 25 games shouldn't be celebrating, although fist-pumps are fine. The coach has thought about fining the player.

"You don't do that when you have 25 wins and you're playing the Detroit Pistons or the San Antonio Spurs," Hill said. "You do that when you have 40 wins and you're rolling along."

Note

• Sonics F Danny Fortson was late to a mandatory appearance with season-ticket holders at KeyArena on Thursday. He arrived shortly before an interaction session with fans and seated next to a steamed Hill, who fined Fortson.

Fortson did practice on Friday and "is doing fine," according to Hill.