Ewing Gets the Key Victory

It didn’t matter that Patrick Ewing was outplayed by Marcus Camby. Ewing’s new team got the victory--a decisive one.

Gary Payton had 25 points and 13 assists Tuesday night to lead the Seattle SuperSonics to a 96-75 victory over the New York Knicks.

The SuperSonics, off to a 3-6 start, got 10 points and nine rebounds from Ewing, who played 31 minutes. Ewing’s layup with 5:51 to go put Seattle in front, 85-68. He had eight of his points in the second half.

Camby, Ewing’s replacement at center for the Knicks, had 20 points and 17 rebounds.

Rashard Lewis added 22 points for the Seattle.

The SuperSonics got three-point baskets from Payton and Lewis to start the second half and then consecutive baskets from Ewing to take a 58-43 lead. Ewing hustled for an offensive rebound and made a layup before he took a pass from Payton to score on a dunk.

Ewing warmly greeted his former teammates with hugs and handshakes just before the opening tip, which he batted to Payton. He also smiled broadly at the Knick bench, where his former coach, Jeff Van Gundy, was sitting.

Ewing missed his first four shots in the first half before connecting on a wide-open 15-foot jumper from the baseline that gave the SuperSonics a 45-43 lead.

Seattle, just back from a dismal Eastern trip in which it went 1-4, got 16 points from Payton and 12 from Lewis in the opening half.