SuperSonics Win, Stay Perfect

Gary Payton had 28 points and 16 assists as the Seattle SuperSonics improved their record to 5-0 with a 105-92 victory over the Denver Nuggets Saturday night at Seattle.

The SuperSonics, who scored more than 100 points for the first time this season, are off to their best start since the 1993-94 season.

Around the League

Charles Barkley will be sidelined 3-4 weeks after deciding Saturday to undergo surgery to fix a painful muscle tear in his left knee. After an MRI diagnosed the problem Tuesday, team officials said he would play through the pain while treating the injury with rehabilitation and medication. But the pain has continued to worsen. During Houston’s 4-1 start, Barkley averaged 19.2 points and a league-leading 17 rebounds. . . . Seattle SuperSonics swingman Billy Owens, who had supplanted Hersey Hawkins as the starting shooting guard, has been put on the injured list because of a broken finger but hopes to avoid surgery, the team said. By going on the injured list, Owens must sit out at least five games unless he is not replaced on the active squad.