NBA PLAYOFFS : Perkins, SuperSonics Advance

The Seattle SuperSonics acquired Sam Perkins in a February trade with the Lakers for his inside scoring and leadership. On Saturday, he gave them something else--long-distance shooting.

Perkins made four three-point shots and the SuperSonics rallied after a horrible first half to defeat the Utah Jazz, 100-92, and win a first-round playoff series, 3-2.

After tying a franchise playoff worst by scoring only 30 points during the first half, Seattle matched a team playoff best with 70 points during the second half to advance to the Western Conference semifinals against the Houston Rockets.

“We had to do something real quick in the second half,” said Perkins, who had 20 points and 13 rebounds. “We decided to drive to the basket and kick it back outside. In the first half, we were just standing around waiting for something to happen.”

Utah was eliminated in the first round after reaching the Western Conference finals last season.

Seattle Coach George Karl moved the 6-foot-9 1/2 Perkins into the starting lineup after Game 1.

“I don’t know if he’s a center or a point guard,” Karl said. “He’s damn good. He carried us confidence-wise early in the third quarter.”

Teammate Nate McMillan said the SuperSonics’ acquisition of Perkins for Benoit Benjamin and the rights to top draft choice Doug Christie was a key factor in Seattle’s ability to beat a Utah team that eliminated Seattle from last year’s playoffs.

“He’s the ultimate team player,” McMillan said. “He kept our confidence up at halftime and then came out and hit the big shots.”

Karl Malone had 26 points and 12 rebounds for Utah. John Stockton had 19 points and 11 assists.