SuperSonics Respond in McMillan’s Debut

The Seattle SuperSonics played like their new coach used to--with everything they had.

Gary Payton scored 24 points and the SuperSonics showed new energy under interim Coach Nate McMillan in Tuesday night’s 105-93 victory over the Trail Blazers at Portland, Ore.

“I thought it was a fantastic effort from the entire team,” said McMillan, hired Monday to replace the fired Paul Westphal. “This is the effort that we want from these guys. If they give this effort, we have an opportunity to win each night.”

Payton, a teammate of McMillan’s for eight seasons, said the team’s effort made it feel like old times, when the SuperSonics were among the best teams in the Western Conference.

“We just got back to playing defense and playing the basketball we played when he was here,” Payton said in his first public comments since Westphal was fired. “Nate was always a defensive guy, and he told us from day one, ‘I’m going to play defense, and if you don’t play defense, you’re not going to play.’ And that’s what we need.”

McMillan, who played 12 seasons in Seattle, wasted no time in challenging his team after its 6-9 start. McMillan benched forwards Vin Baker and Ruben Patterson, and gave Jelani McCoy and Emanual Davis their first starts of the season.

Dallas 107, Toronto 93--Michael Finley scored 32 points and Steve Nash had 21 points and 10 assists to lead the Mavericks at Dallas.

The Raptors played without Vince Carter, the NBA’s second-leading scorer at 27.5 points per game. Carter, who had played in 145 consecutive games since coming into the league three years ago, remained in Toronto for treatment on a strained tendon in his left quadriceps.

Minnesota 96, Chicago 76--Wally Szczerbiak scored 18 points and Terrell Brandon sparked a third-quarter run at Chicago as the Timberwolves sent the Bulls to their ninth consecutive loss.

Sacramento 88, Houston 81--Chris Webber had 21 points and 11 rebounds as the Kings jumped out to a big lead early and never trailed at Houston.

Sacramento broke out to a 20-3 lead in the opening 6 1/2 minutes and never looked back. During that span, Houston missed nine of 10 shots, had five turnovers and had two shots blocked.

Boston 87, Cleveland 72--Antoine Walker scored 28 points at Cleveland to help the Celtics to their first road victory.

Paul Pierce added 20 points as the Celtics ended a 10-game losing streak at Gund Arena and handed the Cavaliers their first loss at home in seven games this season. The Celtics outscored the Cavaliers, 29-4, in the second quarter.

Utah 98, New Jersey 92--Karl Malone scored 21 points and set up a game-clinching basket after picking up a fourth-quarter technical foul at East Rutherford, N.J.

Milwaukee 102, Miami 101--Sam Cassell made a three-point shot with 0.9 seconds to play, capping the Bucks’ rally from a 22-point deficit in the fourth quarter at Miami.

The Bucks trailed, 85-63, in the fourth quarter before starting their comeback. Cassell, who scored 15 points, capped the rally in the final second.

Atlanta 102, Washington 75--Lorenzen Wright had 23 points and 12 rebounds at Washington as the Hawks ended a 22-game road losing streak.

Alan Henderson added 16 points and 11 rebounds for the Hawks, who had lost eight consecutive road games this season and hadn’t won away from home since Feb. 25 at Seattle.