Payton, Sonics Make Statement

Gary Payton and the Seattle SuperSonics--with the possible exception of Shawn Kemp--sent a message to the Utah Jazz and the rest of the Western Division on Sunday.

They’re not ready to concede conference supremacy just yet.

Payton scored nine of his 28 points in overtime, including a corner jump shot with three-tenths of a second left that gave Seattle an 89-87 victory over Utah at Salt Lake City.

“Having been beaten by them three times, we were coming in to make a statement,” Payton said.

Kemp scored only three points on one-for-eight shooting in 35 minutes and fouled out early in overtime.

Detroit 85, Washington 79--Grant Hill was not a factor, Joe Dumars had one good quarter and the Pistons never really showed the flair that has made them one of the biggest surprises of the season.

Yet they managed to overcome all that against the Bullets at Landover, Md.

Hill, who led Detroit in scoring in 23 of the previous 32 games, finished with 13 points. Reserve Terry Mills had 14 points and a season-high 14 rebounds, and Aaron McKie came off the bench to score 16.

Miami 95, Denver 86--Isaac Austin, filling in for an injured Alonzo Mourning, led a balanced attack with 15 points for the Heat at Miami.

The game was Miami’s first since Mourning tore a tendon in his right foot Friday. He’s expected to be sidelined six weeks.

Austin led seven Miami players in double figures.

Houston 95, San Antonio 85--Hakeem Olajuwon kept the wounded Spurs in their misery.

Olajuwon scored 11 of his 21 points in the fourth quarter and the Rockets held off a late San Antonio rally at Houston.

San Antonio closed to 73-67 with 11:01 remaining, but Randy Livingston made a free throw and Olajuwon added a field goal. Olajuwon had nine points over the final 6:24, and the Rockets led, 94-79, with 1:38 left.

Cleveland 91, Vancouver 84--With all-star point guard Terrell Brandon getting into early foul trouble for the second game in a row, the Cavaliers got a key 19-point second-half effort from Bobby Phills in a come-from-behind victory at Vancouver.

Cleveland went on a 17-4 run to open the fourth quarter in overcoming a 10-point deficit.

Orlando 99, Indiana 90--The Magic used a big third quarter to spoil Mark Jackson’s homecoming at Indianapolis.

Orlando outscored the Pacers, 29-15, in the third quarter as Indiana struggled with five turnovers and the Magic began to convert from outside--connecting on four three-point shots in the quarter to build a 16-point lead.

Jackson had 13 points and seven assists in his first game back with the Pacers after being traded from Denver as part of a six-player deal.

Dallas 88, Phoenix 86--Michael Finley’s three-point basket with 16 seconds remaining completed the Mavericks’ rally from 16 points down in the fourth quarter at Phoenix.

Finley, traded to Dallas earlier this season by the Suns, scored 20 points and newly acquired Shawn Bradley added 18 points and 10 rebounds.

Dallas trailed, 78-62, with 11:36 left before outscoring the Suns, 26-8, down the stretch.

New Jersey 109, Boston 93--Kendall Gill had 24 points as the Nets got their first victory since a blockbuster trade with Dallas by handing the Celtics their 10th consecutive loss at East Rutherford, N.J.