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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME FLOW
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Ruben Patterson made the most of an unexpected opportunity.
Patterson, a late addition to the starting lineup, had 19 points and 12 rebounds as the Seattle SuperSonics edged Washington 104-101 on Wednesday night and extended the Wizards' losing streak to five games.
"I just went out there and I stepped it up," said Patterson,
who replaced Jelani McCoy (sore right knee) and scored his team's
first nine points.
Gary Payton scored 20 points and reserve Vin Baker added 16 for
Seattle, which has won two straight after a four-game losing streak to climb back above .500 (19-18).
The Sonics had to withstand a furious rally by Washington, which used a late 16-5 run to erase a 12-point fourth-quarter deficit.
"We're making things difficult," Sonics coach Nate McMillan said. "We're winning with some lucky situations. We have to win on execution and not keep depending on teams to miss shots or us to be lucky down the stretch."
Juwan Howard, who scored 21 points, scored the last six points in the Wizards' burst, while the Sonics missed shots on four
consecutive possessions in the final three minutes. Howard's baseline jumper with 44.7 seconds left got Washington to 102-101.
Payton hit two free throws with 5.2 seconds remaining and Richard Hamilton missed a 3-point attempt from the left side in the final seconds.
Wizards coach Leonard Hamilton said his team's slow start -- the
Sonics scored 14 first-quarter points off seven Washington
turnovers -- offset the late charge.
"We're not going to get frustrated. We don't maybe have the same room for error as some people," Hamilton said.
Chris Whitney scored 22 points and Tyrone Nesby had 19 for the
Wizards, who have lost 19 of 22.
Washington's 4-13 record at MCI Center is tied with Chicago for the NBA's worst home mark.
Patterson scored Seattle's first nine points and finished with 11 in the first quarter as the Sonics built a 25-19 lead.
"I set the tone with the turnovers," said Whitney, who had
three turnovers in the first period. "That's what got us behind."
Washington crept to 34-31 on a free throw by Hamilton with 9:11
remaining in the first half, but Brent Barry's 3-pointer from the left side started Seattle on a 19-7 run that increased the lead to 53-38 with 3:25 to go.
Whitney had three of his six 3-pointers in the third and the Wizards scored
the quarter's final five points to trim the Sonics' advantage to 85-77.
Game notes
Wizards C Calvin Booth started his ninth consecutive game
in place of the injured Jahidi White (sprained left knee). ...
Washington's 19 first-quarter points were the team's fewest in the
opening period since tallying 19 in a 93-87 loss at Philadelphia on
Nov. 29. ... Seattle C Patrick Ewing, a Georgetown product
returning to his old stomping grounds, missed his first six shots
and finished 1-for-7 from the field. ... The Baja Men of "Who Let
the Dogs Out?" fame were in attendance.
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ALSO SEE
NBA Scoreboard
Seattle Clubhouse
Washington Clubhouse
RECAPS
Boston 88
Miami 76
Seattle 104
Washington 101
Toronto 110
Detroit 85
Dallas 106
Minnesota 86
Portland 93
Philadelphia 75
LA Clippers 92
Denver 86
Sacramento 108
Cleveland 103
FROM
ATHLETESDIRECT
Juwan Howard Official Site
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