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Sunday, Dec. 5 3:30pm ET
Sonics fall hard at home, again | |||||
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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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 GAME FLOW
SEATTLE (AP) -- The Charlotte Hornets on Sunday looked like the contender a lot of people expected this season. The Hornets handed the Seattle SuperSonics their second straight lopsided loss at home, 103-81 behind Derrick Coleman's 26 points.
"DC is showing how good he can be," Charlotte's Eddie Jones said. "He demands a double team and that opens up things for the rest of us." Coleman had 22 points against the Vancouver Grizzlies on Friday and followed that up with an impressive performance against the Sonics. Coleman had 11 rebounds as the Hornets outscored the Sonics inside 54-38 and outrebounded them 54-42. The Los Angeles Lakers routed the Sonics 101-77 Tuesday at Seattle. Hornets coach Paul Silas said some of the adversity his team went through early in the season is helping them now. The Hornets have won six of their past nine games after splitting their first eight. "We struggled some earlier this season because we didn't respect our opponents," Silas said. "We aren't doing that as much now." Eddie Robinson had a season-high 18 points off the bench for the Hornets, who improved to 3-6 on the road this season and concluded their four-game trip with a 2-2 record. "Eddie has a great gift," Silas said. "He can shoot and run the floor. I am most excited about the improvement in his defense." Gary Payton led the Sonics with 17 points. The Hornets double-teamed him aggressively throughout and held him to 4-for-14 from the field. The Sonics were without starting center Horace Grant, who missed the game with a knee injury. Vladimir Stepania started and went 0-for-5 from the field and had two points in 21 minutes. "When Horace is out or Vernon (Maxwell) isn't in rhythm, the young guys have to step up," Payton said. "The young guys have to step up because we don't have anyone else." Maxwell had 12 points on 5-for-16 shooting. Vin Baker had 12 points but only four rebounds in 34 minutes. Payton had eight assists and six rebounds and played the first 45 minutes of the game before he was taken out with 3:17 out and the Sonics down 97-77. The Hornets held the Sonics to a season-low 35 shooting and without a basket for the first 3:50 of the fourth quarter. Seattle went on a 10-1 run to take a 85-66 lead. Sonics coach Paul Westphal was dismayed by his team's dismal performance. "It was a horrible exhibition," Westphal said. "We weren't getting back and it led to dunks for them." Baskets by Anthony Mason, David Wesley and Todd Fuller gave the Hornets a 75-58 lead late in the third quarter. The Sonics closed within 75-65 after three quarters. McCoy kept the Sonics in the game during the first half with 10 straight points during the second period on 5-for-5 shooting. He also picked four personal fouls. Baker got three early fouls and was limited to 12 minutes in the first half and 2-for-7 shooting.
Game notes | ALSO SEE NBA Scoreboard Charlotte Clubhouse Seattle Clubhouse RECAPS Toronto 98 San Antonio 92
Charlotte 103
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