PRINT THIS PAGE | E-MAIL THIS PAGE

Thursday, May 15, 1997

Comeback Sonics can tie conference semifinals

By JIM COUR / AP Sports Writer

SEATTLE (AP) - The Seattle SuperSonics' uncanny ability to stave off playoff elimination is nothing new. If they can do it two more times, they'll join a very elite group and return to the Western Conference finals.

The Sonics, all but counted out after losing to Houston at home on Sunday to go down 3-1, can tie their best of-7 series with the Rockets with a home win Thursday night.

With Gary Payton virtually shutting out Matt Maloney, Seattle brought the series back home with a 100-94 victory in Game 5 in Houston on Tuesday night.

This back-from-the-brink scenario has been played a few times by Seattle.

The Sonics were down 2-1 to Phoenix in the best-of-5 first round and rallied to win. In reaching the NBA Finals last season, the Sonics were 3-1 in loser-out games. In six years under coach George Karl, they're 10-5 in those games.

"I ain't ever gonna be associated with a team that gives up," Payton said.

"We're a team that has a lot of pride and we're not going to lie down," forward Detlef Schrempf said.

This time it will be even tougher.

Only five NBA clubs have overcome 3-1 deficits to win series; Houston against Phoenix in 1995, Boston against Philadelphia in '81, Washington against San Antonio in '79, the Los Angeles Lakers against Phoenix in '70 and Boston against Philadelphia in '68.

Payton isn't so sure he's comfortable returning to the Key Arena, though. In Seattle, the Sonics lost in overtime in Game 4 after dropping Game 3. Both of Seattle's victories have been in Houston. In the playoffs this season, the Sonics are 2-3 on their home court.

"Maybe we should schedule this game on a neutral site," Payton said.

Payton showed Maloney, Houston's rookie point guard, why his nickname was "The Glove" Tuesday night. Payton asked to cover Maloney after Maloney made eight 3-pointers in Game 4. He held him to an 0-for-6 outing from 3-point range in Game 5.

Payton will be on Maloney again Thursday night.

"If I changed that, we'd have a mutiny on our hands," Karl said before Wednesday's practice.

Said Maloney: "I've got to maintain my confidence."

Payton, the feisty catalyst of the Sonics' bulldog personality, just wants to get past Thursday night and get back to Houston.

"I hope when we get out there tomorrow, we'll be all right," he said. "I ain't making no predictions."

Karl said the playoff book says each team usually gets one blowout during a seven-game series.

"We haven't had our blowout yet and that's what I'm hoping for," he said. "But I don't think that will happen. I think you'll see a very close basketball game."

If the Sonics are going to get back to The Summit, they figure they'll need another big scoring night from Hersey Hawkins, who had 23 points in Game 5. In Seattle's three defeats in the Houston series, Hawkins averaged 10.6 points.

"I'm a role player and I know my role," Hawkins said. "Some nights I have to go out and score a lot of points. Some nights I don't. In this game, I think I have to score a lot of points."

Another big factor in Thursday night's game will be keeping Shawn Kemp out of foul trouble. Kemp fouled out in the fourth quarter Sunday and played the final five minutes with five fouls Tuesday night.

"He can't take the silly fouls," Karl said. "He's got to keep them under control."

If the Rockets are going to win and reach the Western Conference finals against Utah, they'll need to get some help for their three aging superstars; Hakeem Olajuwon, Clyde Drexler and Charles Barkley.

Olajuwon had 31 points and 16 rebounds, Drexler 26 points and Barkley 17 points and 20 rebounds.

Still, the Rockets lost - because Maloney and Mario Elie, their other starters - combined for four points on 1-for-15 shooting. Maybe Houston's players are thinking too much.

"One thing everybody has to understand," Olajuwon said. "At this stage, it's all mental, it's all psychological."

Despite the presence of Olajuwon and Barkley, the Sonics are outscoring the Rockets 240-208 in the paint. In fastbreak points, Seattle holds the edge in the series, 78-57. Send a Letter to the Editor about This Story | Start or Join A Discussion about This Story
Send the URL (Address) of This Story to A Friend: