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| November 7, 2001 | Wednesday | Shaba’an 20, 1422 |
Payton lifts Sonics in double overtime
ORLANDO (Florida), Nov 6: Gary Payton took over down the stretch, scoring seven of his 32 points in the final two minutes of the second overtime, to lead the Seattle SuperSonics to a 123-119 win over the Orlando Magic Monday.
Orlando was battling from behind almost the entire game before sending it into overtime.
A Tracy McGrady jumper that opened the second overtime session gave the Magic their first lead since the first quarter at 113-111.
Seattle regained the edge on a 3-pointer by Desmond Mason and a free throw from Vin Baker, but a spinning layup by McGrady tied the game with 2:13 to go.
But over the final two minutes Payton outplayed McGrady and Orlando team mate Grant Hill to give Seattle its first road win of the season.
Payton scored his team’s next five points to offset a layup by Hill and put the Sonics in front 120-117. Hill answered with another inside basket to trim the Seattle lead to one.
A travelling call on Payton with 40 seconds left gave Orlando a chance to seize the lead, but McGrady faltered, throwing an errant pass that went out of bounds.
Payton, who also had 11 assists, then knocked down a free throw to make it 121-119 and McGrady, with a chance to tie, drove to the hoop but saw his layup roll off the rim with 14 seconds left as Seattle held on for the win.
The Magic had trailed 96-86 with 5:11 to go in the fourth quarter but went on a 14-4 run to send the game into OT.
Lewis posted career highs with 36 points — 5-of-8 from 3-point range — and 19 rebounds for Seattle, but he all but disappeared as he made just one basket over the final 16 minutes.
Baker chipped in with 22 points and Brent Barry matched Payton’s 11 assists for Seattle.
Hill led Orlando with 28 points and pulled down eight rebounds.
McGrady scored 27 points, but hit just 10-of-26 shots from the floor, with seven rebounds and six assists.
In Los Angeles, Quentin Richardson scored 20 points off the bench to lead six players in double figures as the Clippers celebrated coach Alvin Gentry’s 47th birthday with their first win of the season, a 109-86 rout of the Atlanta Hawks.
Corey Maggette scored 14 of his 16 points in the first half as the Clippers bolted to a 55-45 lead at the break and Keyon Dooling chipped in with 17 points.
Los Angeles pulled away in the third quarter, when they outscored the Hawks 23-15.
The Clippers blocked 18 shots, including four each by Elton Brand and Michael Olowokandi, who also had 12 rebounds.
Nazr Mohammed paced the Hawks with a career-high 30 points and 11 rebounds.
The Clippers won despite playing without starting forward Lamar Odom, who was suspended for five games Monday for violating the NBA’s anti-drug policy.
Monday’s results (home team in CAPS):
Seattle 123 ORLANDO 119 (2-OT)
LA CLIPPERS 109 Atlanta 86 —Reuters
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