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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME FLOW
SEATTLE (AP) -- Gary Payton's 35 points helped him break the
SuperSonics' career scoring record Saturday night. He wasn't
exactly ecstatic, though.
|  | | Rockets guard Steve Francis, who said the Sonics' Gary Payton was the most complete point guard in the NBA, was victorious Saturday. |
Payton, who made 15 of 25 shots and added a season-high 15
assists, couldn't do enough to keep Seattle from losing its second
straight game at home, 111-104 to the Houston Rockets.
Payton, an 11-year veteran and a six-time All-Star, supplanted
Brown as the No. 1 scorer in the 34-year history of the Seattle
franchise. Payton has 14,044 points in 808 games.
Brown scored 14,018 points in 963 games from 1971-84.
"It's just something that happened," Payton said. "I did it,
but I'd rather have a win. I'm glad it's over with and now we can
just focus on getting better."
Steve Francis, the Rockets' second-year point guard, had 21
points and 10 assists, and hit two key shots down the stretch.
The Rockets tied an NBA record with nine 3-pointers in the
second quarter.
Francis' 3-pointer put Houston ahead to stay at 102-99 with 3:09
left. Francis also made a 15-foot jumper over Vin Baker with 2:28
on the clock to give Houston a 104-99 edge.
"I don't model myself after one player, but Gary is the most
complete point guard in the league," Francis said. "I know he was
happy to get that record, but he also wanted to win the game, too.
I'm glad we won and I'm happy I was able to hit a couple of big
shots."
The defeat came after Seattle beat the Lakers in Los Angeles on
Friday night for its second victory in eight days over the
defending NBA champions.
"We let a lot of things get to us tonight," Payton said. "We
have to stay focused. We have to win at home."
Francis added Houston's final points with two free throws with
29.1 seconds to go.
Seattle's Vin Baker missed two key shots and got a technical
foul in the final three minutes.
In the third quarter, the Sonics moved to 86-85 on consecutive
jump shots by rookie Desmond Mason and a dunk by Rashard Lewis on a
fast break in the final three minutes. Cuttino Mobley of Houston
hit an 18-footer with 37 seconds left in the period.
The Rockets led 65-58 at halftime after a 43-point second
quarter, when they made nine of 12 3-point attempts. Matt Bullard
and Kenny Thomas each sank three 3-pointers.
Houston's Moochie Norris tied the score at 37 on a three-point
play. Thomas and Mobley followed with 3-pointers to give the
Rockets a 43-37 lead.
After Payton made a short running jump shot to give him
Seattle's scoring record with 5:18 to go in the first half, Seattle
trailed 48-43. Payton was fouled on the play and made a free throw.
Mobley followed with a 3-pointer, and Bullard made two more
3-pointers before halftime.
Game notes
Starting guard Emanual Davis missed his second straight
start for the Sonics because of a sprained ankle. F Ruben Patterson
started in place of Davis, with Lewis moving to shooting guard.
Davis was hurt Wednesday night against Detroit. ... The Rockets'
nine assists in the second quarter tied the league record set by
Dallas at Vancouver March 1, 1996. Houston's 43 points in the
second period was the most by them in a quarter this season. ... In
a matchup of two fading star centers, Olajuwon had the edge over
Seattle's Patrick Ewing. Olajuwon had 17 points, five blocked shots
and five rebounds to Ewing's six points, two blocks and seven
rebounds. "It's always fun to play against Patrick -- especially
when we win," Olajuwon said.
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ALSO SEE
NBA Scoreboard
Houston Clubhouse
Seattle Clubhouse
RECAPS
Indiana 99
Charlotte 96
Cleveland 97
Atlanta 90
New York 96
Denver 88
Minnesota 85
LA Clippers 73
Milwaukee 99
Washington 91
San Antonio 105
Chicago 81
Utah 125
Golden State 114
Portland 114
Detroit 83
Houston 111
Seattle 104
Philadelphia 83
Vancouver 79
 FROM
ATHLETESDIRECT
Rudy Tomjanovich Official Site
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