Sonics Look Super to the Spurs

Luke Ridnour skittered everywhere, dribbling around defenders and flipping in jumpers and runners. He showed no fear against Tim Duncan, bumping the big man on his way for layups.

It was a coming-out party Sunday for Seattle’s second-year point guard, who had 15 of his 20 points in the third quarter to lead the Seattle SuperSonics to a 101-89 victory over the San Antonio Spurs, tying the best-of-seven Western Conference semifinal series at 2-2.

“That was great to see. He knows what he’s capable of doing now,” said Ray Allen, who scored 32 points.

Ridnour’s points were a playoff career high, and he also had six assists. He made seven of seven shots as the SuperSonics -- winning decisively without injured All-Star Rashard Lewis (sprained toe) -- broke things open with a 36-point third quarter.

Ridnour finally had a breakout game after being overshadowed by Sacramento’s Mike Bibby in the first round and embarrassed early in this series by San Antonio’s Tony Parker, who scored 29 points in Game 1 of the second round.

“I came off a lot of pick-and-rolls. I got some transition buckets,” Ridnour said. “That’s how I get going. We have guys who know how to make plays, myself included. Tonight it was just there.”

Game 5 is Tuesday night in San Antonio.

Antonio Daniels scored 19, and reserve forward Damien Wilkins had 15 points, six rebounds and five steals for Seattle.

Duncan led the Spurs with 35 points, Manu Ginobili had 15 and Parker 12. But they spent most of the final period on the sideline. Without Lewis, the other SuperSonics raised their game -- just as Spur Coach Gregg Popovich had feared.

“It’s a coach’s nightmare,” he said. “You worry about a team playing inspired basketball, knowing that they’re up against it. You worry about subconsciously letting down. You talk about it, but sometimes it makes no difference.”

Seattle broke from a 54-54 tie with a 12-1 run midway through the third quarter, with Allen scoring seven and Ridnour four. It was 82-66 after three periods after Ridnour made a jumper, a three-pointer and a runner.

“Our bigs did a nice job of playing together, just forcing stops and allowing our guards to get out in transition in the third quarter. That’s when we broke the game open,” Seattle Coach Nate McMillan said.

Seattle kept the momentum going, with Wilkins soaring for a bucket and Allen hitting two jumpers opening the fourth to make it 87-67.

Much of the focus coming into Game 4 was on how San Antonio would defend a pick-and-roll that helped Jerome James to a seven-for-seven shooting effort in Game 3. It was Ridnour doing the damage this time from the perimeter side of the play.

“We did a lot better job defending their bigs, but they killed us the other way,” Duncan said.