Tired Knicks Lose to Seattle

The New York Knicks, playing their fourth road game in five nights after winning in overtime in Vancouver on Friday night, were routed by the Seattle SuperSonics on Saturday night, 104-78.

Vin Baker, who scored 17 points, and Gary Payton, who had 16, did not play in the fourth quarter for Seattle. Greg Anthony also had 16 points, including 12 in the fourth quarter. The Knicks were led by Allan Houston’s 15 points and Larry Johnson’s 14.

The 26-point defeat was New York’s worst loss of the season.

The SuperSonics, losers of three of their previous five games, improved their record to 53-18, second best in the West to Utah’s 53-17 and third best in the NBA behind Chicago’s 54-17.

With 11 games left, Seattle still hopes to finish with the league’s best record so it can have the home-court advantage through the playoffs. The SuperSonics won their 10th straight at home and are 31-4 at Key Arena.

“Of course it matters getting the top spot,” said Baker. “We’ve worked hard to get that top spot and Tuesday night is the biggest game of the year for us.”

The SuperSonics will play Utah in Seattle on Tuesday night.

Payton came out at the start of the second half and scored on a fastbreak layup and two three-point baskets and Baker added a layup to give Seattle a 66-33 lead with just 2:07 into the the second half.

The Knicks’ John Starks left the game with 3:58 remaining in the third quarter after slamming hard into Seattle’s 7-foot Jim McIlvaine. Starks, who had 10 points, grabbed his right thigh and did not return.