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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME FLOW
SEATTLE (AP) – The San Antonio Spurs had already clinched the
NBA's best record and home-court advantage throughout the playoffs.
So they didn't dwell for long on their 105-67 loss to the
Seattle SuperSonics on Wednesday night.
In fact, the Spurs had only Minnesota on their minds after the
game. They host the eighth-seeded Timberwolves in their first-round
playoff series beginning Saturday.
"We've always had tough games against them," the Spurs' Tim
Duncan said. "They're high energy. They're all over the place.
It's just about containing them and executing down the stretch.
"Minnesota's going to be the same as they always are," coach
Greg Popovich said. "That's tough, aggressive, executing well,
playing well, and playing to win. They're a heck of a basketball
team."
The Sonics, meanwhile, could only reflect on a season that saw
them win 44 games but miss the playoffs.
"That's what I talked about to the guys," coach Nate McMillan
said. "You'll be going home this weekend, and these other guys
will be playing. Remember this feeling."
No Spur was even in double figures Wednesday until Shawnelle
Scott hit his 10th point on a free throw with 3:23 left in the
third quarter. Scott got the start in place of David Robinson, who
was resting a stiff back before the playoffs. Tim Duncan played
only 19 minutes.
Gary Payton led the Sonics with 31 points, and rookie Desmond
Mason added a season-high 25. Rashard Lewis had 16 points for
Seattle, and rookie Olumide Oyedeji had a season-high 14 rebounds.
Patrick Ewing added 10 rebounds.
Scott led San Antonio with 14 points and 14 rebounds and was the
only Spur to hit double figures. Somaki Walker finished with 11
rebounds.
San Antonio (58-24) clinched the NBA's best record with a 99-93
victory over the Portland Trail Blazers on Tuesday.
Robinson said he started feeling pain in his back during a home
game against Seattle on April 3.
"I hadn't had any problems with it until then," Robinson said.
"I've kind of been playing through a little bit of soreness in
this last week-and-a-half. But that's part of the game. That's part
of an 82-game season."
Robinson said he expected a tough series from Minnesota (47-35).
"They play with a lot of energy and crash they boards," he
said. "We're just going to have to use our size to our advantage
and we're going to have to use our depth to our advantage.
Fortunately, we match up well with them."
Minnesota lost to the Dallas Mavericks 120-100 on Wednesday
night.
The Sonics dominated the first half against the Spurs. Mason
scored 15 points in the second quarter, when Seattle outscored San
Antonio 29-18.
Mason finished with 19 for the half on 8-of-11 shooting. Payton
had 11 points, Lewis 10, and Oyedeji had nine rebounds.
"That's what I can bring to this team for next year,
rebounding, shot blocking, defense," Oyedeji said.
Danny Ferry led the Spurs with six points in the half.
Seattle had a 54-36 halftime lead.
Game notes
In their previous three meetings this year -- all Spurs
victories -- San Antonio's average margin of victory over Seattle
was 24.3 points. ... The Spurs are McMillan's pick to win the
Western Conference championship, not the NBA champion Los Angeles
Lakers. "I like the home-court advantage, and I think they can go
at Shaquille (O'Neal), get him in foul trouble." ... Seattle guard
David Wingate, who was on the injured list until Sunday, saw his
first minutes of the season. The Key Arena crowd cheered when he
scored his first points on a jumper in the final minute of the
second quarter. ... Duncan, with 2.4 blocks per game, and Robinson,
with 2.5, are the only teammates in the NBA to both average more
than two.
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NBA Scoreboard
San Antonio Clubhouse
Seattle Clubhouse
RECAPS
Charlotte 97
Boston 92
Chicago 92
Philadelphia 86
Toronto 98
Washington 92
Indiana 105
Cleveland 101
New York 94
Detroit 88
Miami 103
Orlando 91
Dallas 120
Minnesota 100
Denver 110
Sacramento 100
Seattle 105
San Antonio 67
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