GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: NBA: DETROIT at SEATTLE

NBA: DETROIT at SEATTLE

<div class="pre">NBA DETROIT 103
SEATTLE 99 0:46 LEFT, 4TH QTR</div>

 

NBA: DETROIT at SEATTLE

<div class="pre">NBA DETROIT 107
SEATTLE 103 FINAL</div>

 

NBA: DETROIT at SEATTLE

<div class="pre">NBA FINAL 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
DETROIT 35 29 17 26 107
SEATTLE 20 32 21 30 103 FINAL

HIGH SCORERS: DET - RICHARD HAMILTON 32, RASHEED WALLACE 15,
TAYSHAUN PRINCE 15
SEA - KEVIN DURANT 19, JEFF GREEN 17, CHRIS
WILCOX 15</div>

 

NBA: DETROIT at SEATTLE

<div class="pre">DETROIT (107) AT SEATTLE (103)

DETROIT

REBOUNDS
PLAYER POS MIN FGM-FGA FTM-FTA OFF-DEF-TOT AST PF ST TO PTS
====== === === ======= ======= =========== === == == == ===

C BILLUPS G 33:55 2-6 4-5 0 3 3 6 3 4 1 9
R HAMILTON G 41:03 11-21 7-9 2 2 4 5 3 4 1 32
A MCDYESS F 33:18 7-13 1-2 5 10 15 1 3 0 3 15
T PRINCE F 35:01 4-13 0-0 2 7 9 6 0 0 4 8
R WALLACE C 36:21 6-12 0-0 0 7 7 2 4 1 1 15
J HAYES 18:06 5-11 3-3 0 3 3 2 3 1 0 14
R MURRAY 16:20 1-6 3-4 1 1 2 5 3 0 0 5
J MAXIELL 13:25 0-0 3-6 1 2 3 0 4 0 1 3
N MOHAMMED 7:27 1-4 1-2 0 2 2 0 1 0 0 3
A JOHNSON 5:04 1-2 1-2 1 0 1 0 1 0 0 3
L HUNTER DNP - COACH'S DECISION
A AFFLALO DNP - COACH'S DECISION

TOTALS 240:00 38-88 23-33 12 37 49 27 25 10 11 107
(.432) (.697) TEAM REBS: 11 TOTAL TO: 11 (11 PTS)

SEATTLE

REBOUNDS
PLAYER POS MIN FGM-FGA FTM-FTA OFF-DEF-TOT AST PF ST TO PTS
====== === === ======= ======= =========== === == == == ===

L RIDNOUR G 30:49 1-5 2-2 0 1 1 7 5 1 2 4
K DURANT G 33:15 7-20 4-5 2 4 6 2 0 1 2 19
C WILCOX F 27:31 4-10 7-8 4 5 9 0 3 0 2 15
D WILKINS F 30:10 6-9 0-0 0 3 3 3 4 2 2 13
R SWIFT C 12:09 0-4 0-0 1 1 2 0 2 0 0 0
N COLLISON 27:48 5-11 3-3 1 3 4 1 4 2 1 13
J GREEN 24:58 5-10 7-7 2 6 8 1 1 0 0 17
D WEST 19:46 2-6 0-0 0 5 5 4 0 0 3 4
K THOMAS 19:27 4-4 2-2 1 6 7 2 1 0 0 10
W SZCZERBIAK 14:07 3-7 1-2 0 2 2 1 5 1 1 8
E WATSON DNP - COACH'S DECISION
J PETRO DNP - COACH'S DECISION

TOTALS 240:00 37-86 26-29 11 36 47 21 25 7 13 103
(.430) (.897) TEAM REBS: 5 TOTAL TO: 13 (13 PTS)

DETROIT 35 29 17 26 - 107
SEATTLE 20 32 21 30 - 103

BLOCKED SHOTS: DETROIT - R WALLACE. SEATTLE - J GREEN, K DURANT.
3-PT. FIELD GOALS: DETROIT 8-23 (.348), C BILLUPS 1-5, R HAMILTON 3-
6, T PRINCE 0-3, R WALLACE 3-5, J HAYES 1-4. SEATTLE 3-9 (.333), K DURANT 1-
4, D WILKINS 1-3, W SZCZERBIAK 1-2.
TECHNICAL FOULS: NONE.
FLAGRANT FOULS: NONE.
OFFICIALS: DAN CRAWFORD, LUIS GRILLO, PHIL ROBINSON.
A - 16,379. T - 2:21.</div>

 

NBA: DETROIT at SEATTLE

<div class="pre">DETROIT (107)

fg ft rb
min m-a m-a o-t a pf tp
C Billups 33:55 2-6 4-5 0-3 6 3 9
R Hamilton 41:03 11-21 7-9 2-4 5 3 32
A McDyess 33:18 7-13 1-2 5-15 1 3 15
T Prince 35:01 4-13 0-0 2-9 6 0 8
R Wallace 36:21 6-12 0-0 0-7 2 4 15
J Hayes 18:06 5-11 3-3 0-3 2 3 14
R Murray 16:20 1-6 3-4 1-2 5 3 5
J Maxiell 13:25 0-0 3-6 1-3 0 4 3
N Mohammed 7:27 1-4 1-2 0-2 0 1 3
A Johnson 5:04 1-2 1-2 1-1 0 1 3
L Hunter DNP - COACH'S DECISION
A Afflalo DNP - COACH'S DECISION

______________________________________________________
TOTALS 240:00 38-88 23-33 12-49 27 25 107
______________________________________________________

Percentages: FG-.432, FT-.697. 3-Point Goals:
8-23, .348 (C Billups 1-5, R Hamilton 3-6, T
Prince 0-3, R Wallace 3-5, J Hayes 1-4). Team
Rebounds: 11. Blocked Shots:1 (R Wallace).
Turnovers:11 (T Prince 4, A McDyess 3, R
Wallace, J Maxiell, C Billups, R Hamilton).
Steals: 10 (C Billups 4, R Hamilton 4, R
Wallace, J Hayes).


SEATTLE (103)

fg ft rb
min m-a m-a o-t a pf tp
L Ridnour 30:49 1-5 2-2 0-1 7 5 4
K Durant 33:15 7-20 4-5 2-6 2 0 19
C Wilcox 27:31 4-10 7-8 4-9 0 3 15
D Wilkins 30:10 6-9 0-0 0-3 3 4 13
R Swift 12:09 0-4 0-0 1-2 0 2 0
N Collison 27:48 5-11 3-3 1-4 1 4 13
J Green 24:58 5-10 7-7 2-8 1 1 17
D West 19:46 2-6 0-0 0-5 4 0 4
K Thomas 19:27 4-4 2-2 1-7 2 1 10
W Szczerbiak 14:07 3-7 1-2 0-2 1 5 8
E Watson DNP - COACH'S DECISION
J Petro DNP - COACH'S DECISION

______________________________________________________
TOTALS 240:00 37-86 26-29 11-47 21 25 103
______________________________________________________

Percentages: FG-.430, FT-.897. 3-Point Goals:
3-9, .333 (K Durant 1-4, D Wilkins 1-3, W
Szczerbiak 1-2). Team Rebounds: 5. Blocked
Shots:2 (J Green, K Durant). Turnovers:13 (D
West 3, L Ridnour 2, C Wilcox 2, D Wilkins 2,
K Durant 2, W Szczerbiak, N Collison).
Steals: 7 (N Collison 2, D Wilkins 2, W
Szczerbiak, K Durant, L Ridnour).

--------------------------------------------
DETROIT 35 29 17 26 - 107
SEATTLE 20 32 21 30 - 103
--------------------------------------------

Technical fouls: None.
Flagrant fouls: None. A: 16,379. T: 2:21.
Officials: Dan Crawford, Luis Grillo, Phil
Robinson.</div>

 

SEATTLE (Ticker) -- The young Seattle SuperSonics have hadproblems closing out games. But in this one, they started offall wrong.


Richard Hamilton had a season-high 32 points as the DetroitPistons nearly squandered an early 23-point lead but hung on tobeat the winless SuperSonics, 107-103, on Sunday night.

Seattle, which has lost its first seven games, set a franchiserecord for futility to start a season. However, theinexperienced Sonics have been in almost every game, but haveyet to show an ability to execute down the stretch.

They erased a 23-point first-half deficit when Kurt Thomasnailed a jumper with 2:32 left to tie the game at 99-99. Butthe veteran Pistons responded as Rasheed Wallace and Hamiltonnailed back-to-back jumpers to give their team a five-pointadvantage - securing the victory.


Thomas, acquired in a trade with the Phoenix Suns in theoffseason, made his first appearance this season in the firstquarter. The 12-year veteran missed the team's first six gameswith a strained right hamstring.


Hamilton shot 11-of-21 from the field, including 3-of-6 from thearc for Detroit.


Seattle came back to cut its deficit to to eight points, 81-73,heading into the fourth quarter. The Sonics then went on a 9-5run to start the final period to come within four with 9:07left. Wally Szczerbiak contributed five points in the run.

But Seattle's effort was really sparked by rookie Jeff Green's13-point effort in the second quarter, which ignited a 20-9 runas the Sonics ended the half trailing by just 12 points.

Seattle trailed at the end of the first quarter, 35-20, asDetroit shot a blistering 64 percent in the period. Hamiltonscored 10 of his 16 first-half points in the first 12 minutes.

Rookie phenom Kevin Durant scored 19 points on 7-of-20 shootingfor Seattle.

 

SEATTLE (Ticker) -- The young Seattle SuperSonics have hadproblems closing out games. But in this one, they started offall wrong.


Richard Hamilton had a season-high 32 points as the DetroitPistons nearly squandered an early 23-point lead but hung on tobeat the winless SuperSonics, 107-103, on Sunday night.

Seattle, which has lost its first seven games, set a franchiserecord for futility to start a season. However, theinexperienced Sonics have been in almost every game, but haveyet to show an ability to execute down the stretch.

They erased a 23-point first-half deficit when Kurt Thomasnailed a jumper with 2:32 left to tie the game at 99-99. Butthe veteran Pistons responded as Rasheed Wallace and Hamiltonnailed back-to-back jumpers to give their team a four-pointadvantage - securing the victory.


Thomas, acquired in a trade with the Phoenix Suns in theoffseason, made his first appearance this season in the firstquarter. The 12-year veteran missed the team's first six gameswith a strained right hamstring.


Hamilton shot 11-of-21 from the field, including 3-of-6 from thearc for Detroit.


Seattle came back to cut its deficit to to eight points, 81-73,heading into the fourth quarter. The Sonics then went on a 9-5run to start the final period to come within four with 9:07left. Wally Szczerbiak contributed five points in the run.

But Seattle's effort was really sparked by rookie Jeff Green's13-point effort in the second quarter, which ignited a 20-9 runas the Sonics ended the half trailing by just 12 points.

Seattle trailed at the end of the first quarter, 35-20, asDetroit shot a blistering 64 percent in the period. Hamiltonscored 10 of his 16 first-half points in the first 12 minutes.

Rookie phenom Kevin Durant scored 19 points on 7-of-20 shootingfor Seattle.

 

NBA: DETROIT at SEATTLE

<div class="pre">DETROIT (107) AT SEATTLE (103)

DETROIT

REBOUNDS
PLAYER POS MIN FGM-FGA FTM-FTA OFF-DEF-TOT AST PF ST TO PTS
====== === === ======= ======= =========== === == == == ===

C BILLUPS G 33:55 2-6 4-5 0 3 3 6 3 4 1 9
R HAMILTON G 41:03 11-21 7-9 2 2 4 5 3 4 1 32
A MCDYESS F 33:18 7-13 1-2 5 10 15 1 3 0 3 15
T PRINCE F 35:01 4-13 0-0 2 7 9 6 0 0 4 8
R WALLACE C 36:21 6-12 0-0 0 7 7 2 4 1 1 15
J HAYES 18:06 5-11 3-3 0 3 3 2 3 1 0 14
R MURRAY 16:20 1-6 3-4 1 1 2 5 3 0 0 5
J MAXIELL 13:25 0-0 3-6 1 2 3 0 4 0 1 3
N MOHAMMED 7:27 1-4 1-2 0 2 2 0 1 0 0 3
A JOHNSON 5:04 1-2 1-2 1 0 1 0 1 0 0 3
L HUNTER DNP - COACH'S DECISION
A AFFLALO DNP - COACH'S DECISION

TOTALS 240:00 38-88 23-33 12 37 49 27 25 10 11 107
(.432) (.697) TEAM REBS: 11 TOTAL TO: 11 (17 PTS)

SEATTLE

REBOUNDS
PLAYER POS MIN FGM-FGA FTM-FTA OFF-DEF-TOT AST PF ST TO PTS
====== === === ======= ======= =========== === == == == ===

L RIDNOUR G 30:49 1-5 2-2 0 1 1 7 5 1 2 4
K DURANT G 33:15 7-20 4-5 2 4 6 2 0 1 2 19
C WILCOX F 27:31 4-10 7-8 4 5 9 0 3 0 2 15
D WILKINS F 30:10 6-9 0-0 0 3 3 3 4 2 2 13
R SWIFT C 12:09 0-4 0-0 1 1 2 0 2 0 0 0
N COLLISON 27:48 5-11 3-3 1 3 4 1 4 2 1 13
J GREEN 24:58 5-10 7-7 2 6 8 1 1 0 0 17
D WEST 19:46 2-6 0-0 0 5 5 4 0 0 3 4
K THOMAS 19:27 4-4 2-2 1 6 7 2 1 0 0 10
W SZCZERBIAK 14:07 3-7 1-2 0 2 2 1 5 1 1 8
E WATSON DNP - COACH'S DECISION
J PETRO DNP - COACH'S DECISION

TOTALS 240:00 37-86 26-29 11 36 47 21 25 7 13 103
(.430) (.897) TEAM REBS: 5 TOTAL TO: 13 (11 PTS)

DETROIT 35 29 17 26 - 107
SEATTLE 20 32 21 30 - 103

BLOCKED SHOTS: DETROIT - R WALLACE. SEATTLE - J GREEN, K DURANT.
3-PT. FIELD GOALS: DETROIT 8-23 (.348), C BILLUPS 1-5, R HAMILTON 3-
6, T PRINCE 0-3, R WALLACE 3-5, J HAYES 1-4. SEATTLE 3-9 (.333), K DURANT 1-
4, D WILKINS 1-3, W SZCZERBIAK 1-2.
TECHNICAL FOULS: NONE.
FLAGRANT FOULS: NONE.
OFFICIALS: DAN CRAWFORD, LUIS GRILLO, PHIL ROBINSON.
A - 16,379. T - 2:20.</div>

 

NBA: DETROIT at SEATTLE

<div class="pre">DETROIT (107)

fg ft rb
min m-a m-a o-t a pf tp
C Billups 33:55 2-6 4-5 0-3 6 3 9
R Hamilton 41:03 11-21 7-9 2-4 5 3 32
A McDyess 33:18 7-13 1-2 5-15 1 3 15
T Prince 35:01 4-13 0-0 2-9 6 0 8
R Wallace 36:21 6-12 0-0 0-7 2 4 15
J Hayes 18:06 5-11 3-3 0-3 2 3 14
R Murray 16:20 1-6 3-4 1-2 5 3 5
J Maxiell 13:25 0-0 3-6 1-3 0 4 3
N Mohammed 7:27 1-4 1-2 0-2 0 1 3
A Johnson 5:04 1-2 1-2 1-1 0 1 3
L Hunter DNP - COACH'S DECISION
A Afflalo DNP - COACH'S DECISION

______________________________________________________
TOTALS 240:00 38-88 23-33 12-49 27 25 107
______________________________________________________

Percentages: FG-.432, FT-.697. 3-Point Goals:
8-23, .348 (C Billups 1-5, R Hamilton 3-6, T
Prince 0-3, R Wallace 3-5, J Hayes 1-4). Team
Rebounds: 11. Blocked Shots:1 (R Wallace).
Turnovers:11 (T Prince 4, A McDyess 3, R
Wallace, J Maxiell, C Billups, R Hamilton).
Steals: 10 (C Billups 4, R Hamilton 4, R
Wallace, J Hayes).


SEATTLE (103)

fg ft rb
min m-a m-a o-t a pf tp
L Ridnour 30:49 1-5 2-2 0-1 7 5 4
K Durant 33:15 7-20 4-5 2-6 2 0 19
C Wilcox 27:31 4-10 7-8 4-9 0 3 15
D Wilkins 30:10 6-9 0-0 0-3 3 4 13
R Swift 12:09 0-4 0-0 1-2 0 2 0
N Collison 27:48 5-11 3-3 1-4 1 4 13
J Green 24:58 5-10 7-7 2-8 1 1 17
D West 19:46 2-6 0-0 0-5 4 0 4
K Thomas 19:27 4-4 2-2 1-7 2 1 10
W Szczerbiak 14:07 3-7 1-2 0-2 1 5 8
E Watson DNP - COACH'S DECISION
J Petro DNP - COACH'S DECISION

______________________________________________________
TOTALS 240:00 37-86 26-29 11-47 21 25 103
______________________________________________________

Percentages: FG-.430, FT-.897. 3-Point Goals:
3-9, .333 (K Durant 1-4, D Wilkins 1-3, W
Szczerbiak 1-2). Team Rebounds: 5. Blocked
Shots:2 (J Green, K Durant). Turnovers:13 (D
West 3, L Ridnour 2, C Wilcox 2, D Wilkins 2,
K Durant 2, W Szczerbiak, N Collison).
Steals: 7 (N Collison 2, D Wilkins 2, W
Szczerbiak, K Durant, L Ridnour).

--------------------------------------------
DETROIT 35 29 17 26 - 107
SEATTLE 20 32 21 30 - 103
--------------------------------------------

Technical fouls: None.
Flagrant fouls: None. A: 16,379. T: 2:20.
Officials: Dan Crawford, Luis Grillo, Phil
Robinson.</div>

 

NBA: DETROIT at SEATTLE

<div class="pre">** CONFIRMED **
NBA
DETROIT 107
SEATTLE 103 FINAL</div>

 

NBA: DETROIT at SEATTLE

<div class="pre">DETROIT (107) AT SEATTLE (103)

DETROIT

REBOUNDS
PLAYER POS MIN FGM-FGA FTM-FTA OFF-DEF-TOT AST PF ST TO PTS
====== === === ======= ======= =========== === == == == ===

C BILLUPS G 33:55 2-6 4-5 0 3 3 6 3 4 1 9
R HAMILTON G 41:03 11-21 7-9 2 2 4 5 3 4 1 32
A MCDYESS F 33:18 7-13 1-2 5 10 15 1 3 0 3 15
T PRINCE F 35:01 4-13 0-0 2 7 9 6 0 0 4 8
R WALLACE C 36:21 6-12 0-0 0 7 7 2 4 1 1 15
J HAYES 18:06 5-11 3-3 0 3 3 2 3 1 0 14
R MURRAY 16:20 1-6 3-4 1 1 2 5 3 0 0 5
J MAXIELL 13:25 0-0 3-6 1 2 3 0 4 0 1 3
N MOHAMMED 7:27 1-4 1-2 0 2 2 0 1 0 0 3
A JOHNSON 5:04 1-2 1-2 1 0 1 0 1 0 0 3
L HUNTER DNP - COACH'S DECISION
A AFFLALO DNP - COACH'S DECISION

TOTALS 240:00 38-88 23-33 12 37 49 27 25 10 11 107
(.432) (.697) TEAM REBS: 11 TOTAL TO: 11 (7 PTS)

SEATTLE

REBOUNDS
PLAYER POS MIN FGM-FGA FTM-FTA OFF-DEF-TOT AST PF ST TO PTS
====== === === ======= ======= =========== === == == == ===

L RIDNOUR G 30:49 1-5 2-2 0 1 1 7 5 1 2 4
K DURANT G 33:15 7-20 4-5 2 4 6 2 0 1 2 19
C WILCOX F 27:31 4-10 7-8 4 5 9 0 3 0 2 15
D WILKINS F 30:10 6-9 0-0 0 3 3 3 4 2 2 13
R SWIFT C 12:09 0-4 0-0 1 1 2 0 2 0 0 0
N COLLISON 27:48 5-11 3-3 1 3 4 1 4 2 1 13
J GREEN 24:58 5-10 7-7 2 6 8 1 1 0 0 17
D WEST 19:46 2-6 0-0 0 5 5 4 0 0 3 4
K THOMAS 19:27 4-4 2-2 1 6 7 2 1 0 0 10
W SZCZERBIAK 14:07 3-7 1-2 0 2 2 1 5 1 1 8
E WATSON DNP - COACH'S DECISION
J PETRO DNP - COACH'S DECISION

TOTALS 240:00 37-86 26-29 11 36 47 21 25 7 13 103
(.430) (.897) TEAM REBS: 5 TOTAL TO: 13 (11 PTS)

DETROIT 35 29 17 26 - 107
SEATTLE 20 32 21 30 - 103

BLOCKED SHOTS: DETROIT - R WALLACE. SEATTLE - J GREEN, K DURANT.
3-PT. FIELD GOALS: DETROIT 8-23 (.348), C BILLUPS 1-5, R HAMILTON 3-
6, T PRINCE 0-3, R WALLACE 3-5, J HAYES 1-4. SEATTLE 3-9 (.333), K DURANT 1-
4, D WILKINS 1-3, W SZCZERBIAK 1-2.
TECHNICAL FOULS: NONE.
FLAGRANT FOULS: NONE.
OFFICIALS: DAN CRAWFORD, LUIS GRILLO, PHIL ROBINSON.
A - 16,379. T - 2:20.</div>

 

NBA: DETROIT at SEATTLE

<div class="pre">DETROIT (107)

fg ft rb
min m-a m-a o-t a pf tp
C Billups 33:55 2-6 4-5 0-3 6 3 9
R Hamilton 41:03 11-21 7-9 2-4 5 3 32
A McDyess 33:18 7-13 1-2 5-15 1 3 15
T Prince 35:01 4-13 0-0 2-9 6 0 8
R Wallace 36:21 6-12 0-0 0-7 2 4 15
J Hayes 18:06 5-11 3-3 0-3 2 3 14
R Murray 16:20 1-6 3-4 1-2 5 3 5
J Maxiell 13:25 0-0 3-6 1-3 0 4 3
N Mohammed 7:27 1-4 1-2 0-2 0 1 3
A Johnson 5:04 1-2 1-2 1-1 0 1 3
L Hunter DNP - COACH'S DECISION
A Afflalo DNP - COACH'S DECISION

______________________________________________________
TOTALS 240:00 38-88 23-33 12-49 27 25 107
______________________________________________________

Percentages: FG-.432, FT-.697. 3-Point Goals:
8-23, .348 (C Billups 1-5, R Hamilton 3-6, T
Prince 0-3, R Wallace 3-5, J Hayes 1-4). Team
Rebounds: 11. Blocked Shots:1 (R Wallace).
Turnovers:11 (T Prince 4, A McDyess 3, R
Wallace, J Maxiell, C Billups, R Hamilton).
Steals: 10 (C Billups 4, R Hamilton 4, R
Wallace, J Hayes).


SEATTLE (103)

fg ft rb
min m-a m-a o-t a pf tp
L Ridnour 30:49 1-5 2-2 0-1 7 5 4
K Durant 33:15 7-20 4-5 2-6 2 0 19
C Wilcox 27:31 4-10 7-8 4-9 0 3 15
D Wilkins 30:10 6-9 0-0 0-3 3 4 13
R Swift 12:09 0-4 0-0 1-2 0 2 0
N Collison 27:48 5-11 3-3 1-4 1 4 13
J Green 24:58 5-10 7-7 2-8 1 1 17
D West 19:46 2-6 0-0 0-5 4 0 4
K Thomas 19:27 4-4 2-2 1-7 2 1 10
W Szczerbiak 14:07 3-7 1-2 0-2 1 5 8
E Watson DNP - COACH'S DECISION
J Petro DNP - COACH'S DECISION

______________________________________________________
TOTALS 240:00 37-86 26-29 11-47 21 25 103
______________________________________________________

Percentages: FG-.430, FT-.897. 3-Point Goals:
3-9, .333 (K Durant 1-4, D Wilkins 1-3, W
Szczerbiak 1-2). Team Rebounds: 5. Blocked
Shots:2 (J Green, K Durant). Turnovers:13 (D
West 3, L Ridnour 2, C Wilcox 2, D Wilkins 2,
K Durant 2, W Szczerbiak, N Collison).
Steals: 7 (N Collison 2, D Wilkins 2, W
Szczerbiak, K Durant, L Ridnour).

--------------------------------------------
DETROIT 35 29 17 26 - 107
SEATTLE 20 32 21 30 - 103
--------------------------------------------

Technical fouls: None.
Flagrant fouls: None. A: 16,379. T: 2:20.
Officials: Dan Crawford, Luis Grillo, Phil
Robinson.</div>

 

NBA: DETROIT at SEATTLE

<div class="pre">NBA DETROIT AT SEATTLE
NOTE: RESENDING CORRETING POINTS OFF TURNOVERS.</div>

 

SEATTLE (Ticker) -- The young Seattle SuperSonics have hadproblems closing out games. But in this one, they started offall wrong.


Richard Hamilton had a season-high 32 points as the DetroitPistons nearly squandered an early 23-point lead, but hung on tobeat the winless SuperSonics, 107-103, on Sunday night.

Seattle, which has lost its first seven games, set a franchiserecord for futility to start a season. However, theinexperienced Sonics have been in almost every game, but haveyet to show an ability to execute down the stretch.

They erased a 23-point first-half deficit when Kurt Thomasnailed a jumper with 2:32 left to tie the game at 99-99. Butthe veteran Pistons responded as Rasheed Wallace and Hamiltonnailed back-to-back jumpers to give their team a four-pointadvantage - securing the victory.


"We played a lot of good minutes, but unfortunately, we played12 horrible ones," Sonics coach P.J. Carlesimo said. "It wastoo big a hole against too good a team.


"Our guys play hard. One thing we do is really compete. Thereweren't too many people who thought when we were down 23 pointsthat the game would be tied with a minute or two to go in thegame."


Thomas, acquired in a trade with the Phoenix Suns in theoffseason, made his first appearance this season in the firstquarter. The 12-year veteran missed the team's first six gameswith a strained right hamstring, but contributed 10 points andseven rebounds.


"I thought Kurt Thomas was huge for them," Detroit coach FlipSaunders said. "He changed the whole complexion of the game."

Hamilton shot 11-of-21 from the field, including 3-of-6 from thearc for Detroit.


Seattle came back to cut its deficit to to eight points, 81-73,heading into the fourth quarter. The Sonics then went on a 9-5run to start the final period to come within four with 9:07left. Wally Szczerbiak contributed five points in the run.

But Seattle's effort was really sparked by rookie Jeff Green's13-point effort in the second quarter, which ignited a 20-9 runas the Sonics ended the half trailing by just 12 points.

"We didn't close out the first half," Saunders said. "We got up23 with five minutes to go and went to our bench down thestretch and gave them their confidence and let them back in thegame. This is a young team that's talented, plays hard anddoesn't quit and they are going to keep on coming."

Seattle trailed at the end of the first quarter, 35-20, asDetroit shot a blistering 64 percent in the period. Hamiltonscored 10 of his 16 first-half points in the first 12 minutes.

"We kind of let them back in the game," Hamilton said. "Theyplayed with a lot of energy. When we've got a lead, we've gotto try to extend it even more."


Rookie phenom Kevin Durant scored 19 points on 7-of-20 shootingfor Seattle.


"I think we're being aggressive," said Durant, who is stillseeking his first win as a pro. "In the second half, we playedwith a lot of heart and much harder. Unfortunately, we didn'tcome out with the win, but I felt we played much better."