Payton Has Last Word Against the Nuggets

Seattle SuperSonic guard Gary Payton got mad, and then he got even.

Following an exchange of words with Nugget Coach Dan Issel, Payton went on a tear, finishing with 35 points to lead the SuperSonics to a 103-93 victory on Wednesday night at Denver.

The Sonics, trailing, 85-84, with 8:44 left, outscored Denver, 19-8, the rest of the way, including seven points by Payton and five by Brent Barry, who had 21 points.

Antonio McDyess had 26 points and Ron Mercer added 25 for the Nuggets.

A third-quarter incident might have sealed the Nuggets’ fate.

Back-to-back three-point baskets by McCloud gave Denver a 65-62 lead midway through the third period, but as Payton went to the line for two foul shots, he and Issel had words, some of them profane. Payton made both free throws, and then both he and Issel were assessed technical fouls.

Payton made 11 of Seattle’s last 16 points in the quarter. He had 16 points in the period and 23 in the second half.

Asked about his verbal exchange, Payton said, “Me and coach are cool. We’re straight. I like to talk. I felt like talking at the time, and I talked. It was no big thing. Things happen on the floor.

“After the game, we shook hands and said it was over. I like Coach Issel. He played in the NBA, and he’s a competitor just like me.”

Issel said the incident “was nothing.”

Portland 95, Cleveland 75--Rasheed Wallace scored a season-high 25 points and Steve Smith added 18 at Portland, Ore., as the Trail Blazers won for the ninth time in their last 10 games.

Shawn Kemp had 18 points for the Cavaliers, who had their three-game winning streak snapped.

It was a sad and strange night for the Cavaliers, who began a season-long seven-game trip with the news that former teammate Bobby Phills had been killed in a car accident in Charlotte, N.C.

Then, before the game, backup forward Ryan Stack had a dizzy spell, nearly falling off his chair during player introductions. He was taken by ambulance to a hospital with what a team spokesman called, “lightheadedness.” Stack was reportedly feeling better later, but was kept overnight as a precaution.

Detroit 114, New York 108--Lindsey Hunter, Grant Hill and Jerry Stackhouse each scored 29 points in leading the Pistons to victory at Auburn Hills, Mich.

Hunter made a career-high seven three-pointers for the surging Pistons, who have won seven of their last eight.

Latrell Sprewell scored 23 points for the Knicks.

Toronto 108, Orlando 102--Vince Carter had 30 points and a career-high nine assists at Toronto as the Raptors snapped a three-game losing streak.

Tariq Abdul-Wahad had a season-high 23 points, including 14 in the third quarter, as the Magic extended their losing streak to four games.

Indiana 117, Washington 102--Jalen Rose scored 25 points as the Pacers used runs of 15-4 in the third quarter and 13-3 in the fourth to extend their home winning streak to 11 games.

Phoenix 95, Vancouver 92--Jason Kidd earned his fifth triple-double in the last 13 games with 20 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists as the Suns snapped a three-game losing streak with a victory at Vancouver, Canada.

Othella Harrington scored 19 points for the Grizzlies, who blew an opportunity to win their franchise-record fourth straight.