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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME FLOW
SEATTLE (AP) -- The Seattle SuperSonics won one for their new
owner.
|  | | Starbucks chairman Howard Schultz celebrates a first-half basket by his latest acquisition -- the Sonics. |
With Howard Schultz cheering from his courtside seat, the Sonics
got a season-best 26 points from Ruben Patterson and 21 from Gary
Payton to beat the Vancouver Grizzlies 115-102 Friday night.
The Sonics players had their eyes on Schultz.
"We just came out and played hard for him tonight," rookie
Desmond Mason said. "It was a good game and we got him a win right
off the bat. I know this gives him confidence in us."
Bryant Reeves had a season-high 31 points, while Mike Bibby had
a franchise-high 18 assists and 22 points for the Grizzlies.
Michael Dickerson scored 21 points for Vancouver.
Schultz purchased the Sonics from Barry Ackerley, their owner
for 17 seasons, on Thursday for $200 million. The deal must still
be approved by the NBA Board of Governors.
He has had a courtside seat for Sonics' home games since moving
to Seattle from Brooklyn, N.Y., in 1982.
"Yeah, I saw him a few times," Sonics coach Nate McMillan
said. "You can't help but see him. I was just thinking, 'We can't
lose this one.' This was not a game we wanted to lose on the
owner's first night."
Schultz talked to his new players at the team's shootaround
Friday.
"He gave us a little speech," Patterson said. "It was a great
win for us and for him."
The Sonics led throughout the fourth quarter, but the Grizzlies
made it close. Two baskets by Reeves cut Seattle's lead to 103-97 with 4:41
left before the Sonics put the game away with six unanswered
points.
Vin Baker scored on a 10-footer over Reeves and Payton then sank
four consecutive free throws to give Seattle a 109-97 advantage
with 3:14 to go.
The Grizzlies surrendered more than 100 points for the sixth
time in seven games, leaving their coach shaking his head.
"Our defense again was pretty much nonexistent," Sidney Lowe
said. "Right now, I don't see us taking pride in stopping people.
We've lost our ability to think on the defensive end."
A 3-pointer by Dickerson, followed by an 18-footer by Dickerson
and a 15-footer by Bibby, cut Seattle's advantage to 81-78 near the
end of the third quarter. Patterson's two layups and a dunk put the
Sonics in front 87-80 at the end of the period.
The Sonics used a 16-2 run to take a 54-41 lead with 2:19 left
in the first half. Payton scored nine of Seattle's points,
including a pair of 3-pointers.
In the first quarter, Reeves scored 11 points as Vancouver went
ahead 32-27.
Reeves started his 13th game of the season because Lowe wanted
him in the lineup against Seattle's center, Patrick Ewing.
"It was just one of those games," Reeves said of his 13-for-18
shooting night. "Things were going down for me. But it's
discouraging to play well and then lose. We were right there near
the end tonight."
Game notes
The Sonics improved their record to 19-3 against Vancouver,
including 10-0 at home. ... Reeves' previous high this season was
18. His career high is 41 points. ... The Sonics bench outscored
Vancouver's reserves 40-6, with Mason leading the way with a
career-high 16 points. Mason delighted the crowd with an alley-oop
dunk on a pass from Brent Barry to put Seattle ahead 94-84 early in
the final quarter.
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ALSO SEE
NBA Scoreboard
Vancouver Clubhouse
Seattle Clubhouse
RECAPS
Philadelphia 86
Washington 82
Toronto 93
Boston 72
San Antonio 111
Detroit 90
Minnesota 95
LA Clippers 89
Charlotte 86
Chicago 85
Denver 106
Sacramento 93
Seattle 115
Vancouver 102
LA Lakers 101
Cleveland 98
FROM
ATHLETESDIRECT
Mike Bibby Official Site
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