Seattle Recovers in Time

The Seattle SuperSonics, on the threshold of having to explain away yet another postseason embarrassment, regained control just in time, thanks to Hersey Hawkins.

He made two free throws to begin a 9-0 run, then capped the spurt with a three-point basket in the SuperSonics’ 96-89 victory Tuesday night in Sacramento that gave Seattle a 2-1 lead in the series.

The SuperSonics, owners of the best record in the West but in danger of being upset in the first round for the third season in a row--and this time by the only team in the playoffs with a losing record--got 17 points from Sam Perkins and 16 from Detlef Schrempf.

Shawn Kemp had foul problems and was held to seven points.

Trailing, 86-83, with 3:31 to play, Seattle, which broke a streak of six road losses in the playoffs, had its 9-0 run over the next 2 1/2 minutes in the first playoff game in Sacramento since April 22, 1986, so long ago that tickets Tuesday night were scalped for as much as $1,100.

Mitch Richmond had 24 points for the Kings, and Tyus Edney added 17. Olden Polynice, playing despite a painful thigh bruise, had 18 points and 14 rebounds.

The Kings, trying to become only the second eighth-seeded team to win a playoff series since the NBA went to a 16-team playoff format in 1984, scored only 16 points in the fourth quarter on four-for-20 shooting.

The only successful eighth-seeded team was Denver, which shocked the SuperSonics two seasons ago. Seattle also lost in the first round last year to the Lakers.

The SuperSonics scored five points in a row to take a 59-58 lead with 5:27 to play in the third quarter, but Edney had three assists, a steal and a basket as the Kings went on an 11-0 run over the next 3:39 to lead, 69-59.

Orlando 101, Detroit 98--Penny Hardaway scored 15 of his 24 points in the third quarter in Auburn Hills, Mich., to help the Magic complete a three-game sweep.

Shaquille O’Neal went to the bench with his fourth personal foul and the Magic leading, 57-55, with 9:18 to play in the third quarter. But Orlando, led by Hardaway’s six points, went on a 16-6 run over the next six minutes and led by 11 points at the end of the period.

“When Shaq went out, Penny said he wanted the ball and he was taking over,” Orlando’s Dennis Scott said. “And that’s exactly what we let him do, because we knew he would do it.”

The Pistons’ frustration peaked when Coach Doug Collins, who guided the team to 46 victories in the regular season, was ejected after drawing his second technical foul with 2.4 seconds to play in the third quarter.

Allan Houston scored 33 points for Detroit. His three-point basket pulled the Pistons within one point with 8.3 seconds left in the game, but Nick Anderson then made two free throws for Orlando.

The Magic will meet the winner of the Atlanta-Indiana series in the second round.

NBA Notes

Donna Harris-Lewis, the wife of the late Reggie Lewis, sued the team of cardiologists that cleared the Boston Celtic star to play after he collapsed during a playoff game. She claims in a suit filed in Boston that Gilbert Mudge Jr. and three associates were negligent in telling Lewis he could play without limitations after his collapse April 29, 1993. Lewis died three months later while shooting baskets. . . . Three patrons of a New York nightclub are charging in a $54-million lawsuit that they were beaten and injured last summer by New York Knick forward Anthony Mason and three club employees.