Perkins Leads SuperSonics Past Rockets

Sam Perkins scored 15 of his 23 points in the fourth quarter and Gary Payton had a playoff career-high 22 points as the Seattle SuperSonics defeated the Houston Rockets, 111-100, Wednesday night to take a 2-0 lead in their Western Conference series.

The Seattle Coliseum crowd chanted, “Sweep, Sweep, Sweep” as Game 2 ended. The next two games of the best-of-seven series will be Saturday and Sunday at Houston.

The SuperSonics, who trailed late in the third quarter until Eddie Johnson made a three-pointer from midcourt at the buzzer, made their first 22 free throws and nine of 12 three-pointers.

Perkins was five of six from three-point range, and the SuperSonics were 28 of 36 from the free-throw line. Ricky Pierce scored 19 points and Derrick McKey 15 for Seattle.

After Johnson’s long shot gave the SuperSonics the lead, they outscored the Rockets, 12-2, in the first 3:59 of the fourth quarter to go ahead, 89-77. Perkins made a three-pointer, a fast break layup and two free throws during the run.

After Houston made it 102-90 when Hakeem Olajuwon made a five-foot jump hook with 2:47 to play, Perkins made two more three-pointers in the final 1:46.

The SuperSonics made all 13 free throws in the third quarter.

Olajuwon had 28 points and 13 rebounds, and Vernon Maxwell 25 points for Houston. Michael Cage had 14 rebounds for the SuperSonics, who had the same record as the Rockets in the regular season but got home-court advantage in the series because of a 3-1 advantage in head-to-head competition.