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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME FLOW
SEATTLE (AP) -- Gary Payton returned from a suspension on his
best behavior and at the top of his game.
Payton, suspended for one game for yelling at coach Nate
McMillan after a loss Wednesday night, scored 30 points as the
Seattle SuperSonics beat the Sacramento Kings 109-107 Sunday night.
|  | | Sacramento's Vlade Divac gets a pass by the ever-energetic Gary Payton. |
"When we're all on the same page and we're clicking, we can
beat anybody," said Payton, who was held out of a defeat against
Minnesota at home Friday night.
Ruben Patterson added 21 points for Seattle, which received
double-figure scoring from five players and ended the Kings'
four-game winning streak.
"It was positive and that's the way you have to be as a team,
especially in battles like this," McMillan said.
Payton's biggest basket of the night was a 3-pointer from the
corner with 2:47 to go that put Seattle ahead 104-96. He also made
two crucial free throws with 43.4 seconds left as the Sonics went
ahead 108-104.
Payton delivered Seattle's final point on a free throw with 3.4
seconds left that gave the Sonics a 109-106 advantage.
Payton also was at his public relations best on the floor.
"The biggest thing is, he's got the bark of a pit bull, but
he's got the bite of a Chihuahua," teammate Vin Baker said. "I
don't think a lot of people know that."
Payton got surprising support from rookie Olumide Oyedeji, a
second-round draft choice from Nigeria who had 10 points and nine
rebounds in a career-high 21 minutes. The 6-foot-10 Oyedeji played
in place of Patrick Ewing, who was sidelined because of tendinitis
in his left knee.
After the game, Payton and Patterson embraced. They had an angry
confrontation in the game Wednesday night, a defeat against Phoenix.
"Me and Ruben don't even have a problem," Payton said. "Y'all
see us out there hugging and all. It's just competitiveness. It's
like the playground. You go at it and then you go out and have a
brew."
Patterson passed a group of reporters talking to Payton at
Payton's locker.
"Are y'all asking him about that stuff? We love," Patterson
said.
Pedrag Stojakovic led the Kings with 30 points, including a
3-pointer with 58.7 seconds left that cut Seattle's lead to
106-104.
Chris Webber, who had 25 points, made a free throw for
Sacramento with 2.7 seconds left.
Payton's future with the Sonics has been the subject of trade
conjecture in Seattle since his suspension, but the fans welcomed
him back.
Webber said there would be no trade of Payton if he was the
general manager of the Sonics.
"You'd have to give me nine players for him, you'd have to give
me everything," Webber said. "If you traded Gary, it would be one
of the biggest mistakes because he'd go win a championship in
another city.
"You talk about Michael Jordan being competitive. Every game
he's played against my teams has been a battle. It would be an
awesome mistake if you got rid of him. Maybe they should just get
him some help."
In 43 minutes, the six-time All-Star guard shot 12-for-23 and
had eight assists and three steals.
The Sonics took a 98-87 lead in the first 6:17 of the fourth
quarter with Payton scoring on a pair of 5-footers in the key.
Stojakovic's 3-pointer with 3:34 left in the third quarter put
the Kings ahead 78-69 before Seattle went on a 13-0 run, capped by
Brent Barry's 3-pointer with 50.7 seconds left in the period.
Payton sank two free throws with 24.4 seconds remaining to put the
Sonics ahead 83-81.
The Sonics got an alley-oop slam dunk from Patterson on a pass
from Barry, a layup by Oyedeji and a 15-footer from Payton in the
final 1:08 of the second quarter to tie the score at 55.
Webber gave Sacramento a 57-55 lead at halftime with two free
throws after being fouled by Oyedeji.
Game notes
Ewing missed his first game of the season. The veteran
center is averaging 8.9 points, 7.6 rebounds and 26.0 minutes in
his first year in Seattle after 15 seasons with the New York
Knicks. McMillan was hopeful that Ewing would be able to play
against the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday night in Seattle. ...
Oyedeji played six games and 14 minutes before Sunday night.
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ALSO SEE
NBA Scoreboard
Sacramento Clubhouse
Seattle Clubhouse
No Glove lost: Payton apologizes to fans, teammates
RECAPS
Indiana 87
New York 74
Washington 94
Atlanta 90
Toronto 110
Philadelphia 106
Utah 109
Phoenix 98
Minnesota 96
Vancouver 94
Miami 103
LA Lakers 92
Milwaukee 102
Detroit 98
Golden State 94
Boston 91
Seattle 109
Sacramento 107
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