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Sunday, Jan. 9 9:00pm ET
Lewis scores career-high 19 points | |||||
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 GAME FLOW
OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) -- Struggling through their second game in as many nights, the Seattle SuperSonics got the boost they needed from the youngest player on their roster. Rashard Lewis, a second-year pro who joined the Sonics out of high school, hit a go-ahead 3-pointer in overtime as Seattle beat the Golden State Warriors 100-95 Sunday night. "He took a big step toward what we think he can become," Seattle coach Paul Westphal said. "When he got in there, he let it rip and that's the way he has to play. You can talk about confidence all you want, but you have to play with confidence. We all know he's good, but confidence comes with getting some success and taking chances." Lewis, 20, finished with career highs in points (19), rebounds (9) and minutes (35) in helping the Sonics rebound from Saturday night's 110-100 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers in which they blew a 17-point lead. "We honestly were emotionally drained game from the game (Saturday)," Westphal said. "We had a hard time finding someone to give us the effort necessary tonight. Finally, some of the guys found a way to win. Rashard came off the bench and gave us a fantastic performance." Vin Baker's 30 points and 18 rebounds led the Sonics, who beat Golden State for the third time in three meetings this season. It was the Warriors' ninth straight loss, including all six since Garry St. Jean replaced the fired P.J. Carlesimo as coach. "Two things," St. Jean said. "We were 18 of 31 from the free-throw line and that hurt us, and they rebounded the heck out of it. That young guy, Rashard Lewis played a heck of a game. He was really strong for them." Brent Barry added 17 points and Gary Payton had 14, ending a string of 15 straight games in which the Seattle guard scored at least 20 points. "When Gary doesn't have a good game, it's time for someone else to step up," Seattle's Horace Grant said. "This time it was Rashard. He has started to come on. It just shows you were growing as a team." Mookie Blaylock and Antawn Jamison each scored 20 for Golden State, which led 95-93 after Donyell Marshall hit a 15-foot jumper. Lewis came back to hit a 3-pointer to put the Sonics back in front. Seattle hung on as the Warriors missed their final three shots and turned the ball over in their final possession without getting a shot off. "We had a chance," Blaylock said. "We just didn't finish. We have to take care of the ball more and knock down those shots." Golden State was trailing 91-88 when Sam Mack, despite being harried by Payton, made a 3-pointer with 11.5 seconds left in regulation. Payton missed a long jumper at the buzzer, sending the game into overtime. The Warriors stayed in the game despite going without a field goal for a 9:36 stretch, getting six points on free throws in that span. Jamison's driving layup with 6:32 left ended the drought and pulled Golden State to 81-76. Baker and Jason Caffey each made a pair of free throws before Payton drained a 3-pointer, putting Seattle in front 86-78 with 5:44 left. Then, the Sonics had a hard time scoring while the Warriors ran off eight straight points, forging an 86-all tie when Blaylock made one of two free throws with 2:20 remaining. Game notesBefore the game, the Warriors placed John Starks (knee tendinitis) and Chris Mills (foot surgery) on the injured list and signed guard-forward Jamel Thomas to a 10-day contract, his second this season with Golden State. ... Payton has made at least one 3-pointer in all 34 games this season. ... The Warriors and Sonics meet for the fourth and final time this season on Marc 10 in Seattle. ... Golden State's nine-game losing is its second-longest of the season. The Warriors lost 11 in a row from Nov. 17 to Dec. 8. ... Payton scored fewer than 20 for the first time since Dec. 5, but still dished out 12 assists to register his 16th double-double this season. | ALSO SEE NBA Scoreboard Seattle Clubhouse Golden State Clubhouse RECAPS Vancouver 107 Toronto 97
Seattle 100
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