RECAP | BOX SCORE | GAME FLOW

SEATTLE (AP) _ It was second-year guard Bonzi Wells, not seasoned veteran Scottie Pippen, who delivered down the stretch Tuesday night as Portland beat Seattle for the second time in a week.

Wells scored eight of his 16 points in the fourth quarter and also added four assists and three rebounds. The Blazers, Western Conference finalists last season, improved to 4-0 with a 108-100 exhibition victory.

Portland led by 20 points in the third quarter, but the Sonics pulled within two on two different occasions in the fourth quarter. However, Wells scored big baskets each time to help turn Seattle back.

With Portland up 88-86, Wells stole the ball from Vin Baker, drove the length of the floor and dunked for a 90-86 lead. The Sonics closed to 97-95 with 4:20 remaining but Wells scored on an offensive rebound, triggering an 11-2 spurt.

Steve Smith scored 18 points for the Blazers.

Portland shot better than 50 percent from the field for the fourth consecutive game. Seven Blazers scored in double figures. They got off to a torrid start, shooting 61 percent from the field and hitting eight of 11 3-pointers and led 65-49 at halftime.

Detlef Schrempf, who played six seasons with the Sonics, played his first game in Seattle since signing a two-year contract with the Blazers in August. Schrempf had 11 points in 23 minutes and received a rousing ovation from the crowd when he entered the game in the second period.

Smith, acquired in a trade with the Atlanta Hawks, made all four of his 3-pointers in the first half and had 14 points.

Lazaro Borrell, who played with the Cuban National team before defecting in July, got his first start. The 6-8 forward had eight points, five assists and four rebounds. He was matched against Pippen in the first half.

Gary Payton led the Sonics with 15 points in 24 minutes. Horace Grant added 13 points and six rebounds for Seattle.