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BOX SCORE
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GAME FLOW
SEATTLE (AP) – If the Seattle SuperSonics are intent on dealing Gary Payton before the NBA trading deadline, they might want to
rethink that decision.
|  | | Nick Van Excel, left, couldn't stop Gary Payton from scoring two of his 30 points Wednesday. |
Payton scored 30 points and the Sonics broke a three-game losing
streak with a 127-98 victory over the Denver Nuggets on Wednesday
night.
Payton, who could be dealt by the Sonics before Thursday's
deadline, had 15 of his points in the first quarter and shot
14-for-20 against the Nuggets' porous defense. He also had 12
assists and four rebounds.
Coach Nate McMillan said after the game that he doesn't expect
the Sonics to make any deals.
"There is nothing now going on," he said. "I expect us to
have this team tomorrow."
Payton talked after Tuesday's practice, saying if the Sonics
traded him he wanted to go to a contender. But he had nothing to
say following Wednesday's game.
But all the trade speculation has left the Sonics unsettled.
"That's the talk, but we're trying to be focused," Seattle's
Ruben Patterson said. "We're trying to win. Whatever happens,
happens. It's the NBA. Anything can happen."
Team president and general manager Wally Walker watched the game
from his courtside seat, but stayed away from the media, as he did
Tuesday. Walker has said the Sonics don't have any untouchable
players, the first time in Payton's 11-year career in Seattle that
the team has made that statement.
"We're focused on making the playoffs," Seattle's Vin Baker
said. "We can't control what happens in the front office or what
happens to us as individuals."
Antonio McDyess led Denver with 22 points and 11 rebounds.
The Nuggets lost their fourth straight and for the seventh time
in eight games.
It was the most points scored by Seattle, and the most points
scored against Denver this season.
Patterson scored 21 points, Rashard Lewis 20 and Baker 16 for
the Sonics, who won for the first time since the All-Star break.
Baker was reinserted in the starting lineup to play on a front
line with Ewing and Lewis. He had a strong effort, also collecting
eight rebounds.
"Coach talked to me yesterday about running the floor on
defensive transition and getting eight to 10 rebounds," Baker
said. "So, I went out and really focused on getting the
rebounds."
Raef LaFrentz had 16 points for Denver.
Seattle shot 67.4 percent (29-for-43) in the first half, rolling
up a 71-48 lead as Payton scored 19 points and Patrick Ewing had 11
of his 13 points.
After taking a 35-27 lead in the first period, the Sonics opened
the second quarter with 12 unanswered points to break the game
open.
Shammond Williams opened the quarter with a 3-pointer, Patterson
had a fastbreak dunk, Payton got a fastbreak layup and added a
15-footer, and Patterson had a three-point play to give Seattle a
20-point lead.
The game's most spectacular shot came as time ran out at the end
of the third quarter. Lewis came across the halfcourt line and
fired up a 3-pointer to put Seattle in front 98-71.
Nuggets coach Dan Issel was upset about his team's lack of
defense. Like the Sonics, the Nuggets are trying to stay in playoff
contention.
"What effort?" he asked. "Obviously, Nate did a much better
job of impressing on his guys the importance of this game than I
did. We didn't guard anybody."
Nick Van Exel didn't get much help guarding Payton.
"We let Gary penetrate the middle," Van Exel said. "It was
like we were afraid to leave our man."
Game notes
If the Sonics are considering dealing Payton before
Thursday's NBA trading deadline, they're keeping it to themselves.
"I doubt it. I doubt if anything goes down," McMillan said before
the game when asked if he expected the Sonics to make any trade.
Billy McKinney, executive vice president of basketball operations
for the Sonics, was asked the same question before the game. "I
don't know. At this point, it's all up in the air," McKinney said.
... The 71 first-half points by Seattle was the most given up in a
half by the Nuggets this season. ... The Sonics and Nuggets split
four games this season, with each team going 2-0 at home.
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RECAPS
Philadelphia 107
Vancouver 91
LA Clippers 100
Cleveland 94
Detroit 90
New York 85
Phoenix 100
Miami 85
New Jersey 113
Toronto 111
Houston 89
Minnesota 83
LA Lakers 101
San Antonio 99
Seattle 127
Denver 98
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