SuperSonics Return to Seattle With Visions of Setting Suns

Eddie Johnson has made four of 13 shots. Nate McMillan is three for 16, Sam Perkins eight for 29. Gary Payton has more fouls (11) than assists (six) and as many turnovers as steals (five).

So what reason do the Seattle SuperSonics have for feeling so good?

Despite the fact that key players are struggling and that they are playing the NBA’s winningest team and opened this best-of-seven series on the road only two days after ending the previous one, they return to Seattle Coliseum tonight for Game 3 of the Western Conference final tied with Phoenix, 1-1.

“We’re not a pretty team, and I don’t think we’re going to be a pretty team,” SuperSonic Coach George Karl said. “But we’re a pretty good team.”

Good enough to cause the Suns problems. Seattle won three of five games during the regular season, although Phoenix played one without Charles Barkley, and went 2-0 against the Suns at home. There are two games at Seattle, tonight and Sunday, before the series returns to Phoenix for Game 5.