RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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 GAME FLOW
SEATTLE (AP) -- Nate McMillan is doing wonders for the Seattle
SuperSonics.
The Sonics improved to 2-0 under their new coach with a 121-88
victory over the defending NBA champion Los Angeles Lakers on
Thursday night. The Lakers had a five-game winning streak broken.
The Sonics led by 31 points at halftime and the fans at the Key
Arena were chanting "Nate, Nate, Nate" in the final 1:46.
Paul Westphal was fired Monday when the Sonics were 6-9 and
replaced by the popular McMillan, who was an assistant coach under
Westphal after playing 12 seasons for the Sonics. Seattle won its
first game under McMillan Tuesday night at Portland.
|  | | Kobe Bryant slams one home during the third quarter of Thursday night's loss to Seattle. |
"I think Nate McMillan is going to be a great coach," said the
Lakers' Horace Grant, who played last season with Seattle. "I
think what you saw tonight proved that.
"I think Nate is not going to back down. As a player, you've
got to accept his way or it's going to be the highway," Grant
said. "The Sonics came out and pushed the ball down our throats
tonight."
Gary Payton led the Sonics with 27 points, while Vin Baker, who
spent most of his time in Westphal's doghouse this season, had 20
points and nine rebounds.
McMillan has put Baker on the bench as Patrick Ewing's backup at
center. Led by Baker, Seattle's reserves outscored the Lakers'
bench 60-20.
"Coach McMillan came in tonight and said, 'This is what we
expect,"' Baker said. "I'm pretty confident this can continue."
While Westphal sometimes publicly criticized Baker, McMillan is
praising him.
"Vin has responded both offensively and defensively," McMillan
said.
Shaquille O'Neal led the Lakers with 23 points and Kobe Bryant
had 17.
The 6-foot-11 Baker made the less mobile O'Neal play defense
with slashing moves to the basket. O'Neal finished with four fouls
and seven rebounds.
"They did everything right and it was just one of those nights
for us," O'Neal said. "They played very well. We tried to come
back, but they just hit shot after shot."
The Lakers shot a dismal 1-for-20 from 3-point range, including
0-for-4 by Bryant. But a lot of that was because of the Sonics'
harassing defense.
"We're winning because of our effort," McMillan said.
The game was more or less over at halftime when the Sonics left
the court with a 74-43 lead. After Ruben Wolkowyski got a rebound
in the final seconds, the fans gave the Sonics a standing ovation
and then erupted with even louder applause when Rashard Lewis sank
a 3-pointer to end the half.
With Payton on the bench for a rest at the start of the second
quarter, the Sonics outscored the Lakers 13-2 to take a 20-point
lead, 47-27. Desmond Mason, a rookie from Oklahoma State,
contributed a fast-break dunk, an 18-footer and a 3-pointer.
The Sonics outscored the Lakers 40-18 in the second quarter,
hitting five of seven 3-point attempts.
The Lakers got within 22 points when Bryant drove the baseline
for a layup with 1:28 left in the third quarter, but Baker
responded with a layup. Bryant sank two free throws with 47.2
seconds left in the period to cut the Lakers' deficit to 22 again
before Baker's driving layup. With 20.4 seconds left in the third
quarter, Bryant was charged with an offensive foul against Ruben
Patterson, his fifth, and came out of the game.
Shammond Williams made a 15-footer with two seconds on the clock
to give Seattle a 34-25 lead at the end of the first period.
McMillan used 11 players and Lewis played the most minutes with
36. Payton and Baker each played 34.
The Lakers suffered their biggest loss of the season. In fact,
they didn't lose a game by 33 points last season when they won
their title in Jackson's first season in Los Angeles.
"Basketball seasons aren't over in November," Jackson said.
"But it looked like we didn't didn't deserve to be on the same
court with them tonight."
Game
notes
The 74 points in the first half by the Sonics was the most
scored by an opponent in a half against the Lakers this season. ...
The Lakers were 3-1 against the Sonics last season, including two
victories in Seattle. ... Payton, who grew his hair out for the
Sydney Olympics, shaved his head for Lakers' game. ... Under
Westphal, the Sonics lost in Sacramento by 24 points last Saturday
night. They lost to New Jersey by 35 and San Antonio by 27 on the
road this season. ... The Lakers get a rematch with the Sonics in
eight days in Los Angeles.
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NBA Scoreboard
LA Lakers Clubhouse
Seattle Clubhouse
RECAPS
Chicago 91
Atlanta 82
Milwaukee 108
Boston 97
Houston 109
Denver 105
Portland 95
Dallas 84
Seattle 121
LA Lakers 88
Golden State 99
Indiana 95
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