The Sonics played their third game of the season and second at home against the Jazz last night and were embarrassed, 91-74.

The Sonics started the game with a lead and led halfway through the first quarter until the Jazz began to take control of the game with their methodical style and execution. The Jazz were led by Karl Malone, who finished the game with 28 points on 9 of 21 shooting from the field and 10 of 13 from the line, and Donyell Marshall, who was not far behind with 23 points on 9 of 19 from the field and 4 of 7 from the line.

The Sonics were led by the 18 points of Desmond Mason on 7 of 9 shooting. Vin Baker finished with 10 points on 5 of 14, Gary Payton finished with 14 on a miserable 4 of 17 shooting, and Brent Barry and Lewis each finished with 13.

As halftime approached the Jazz pushed their lead out to 17 points and the Sonics never chipped it below 9 again.

The three things that ultimately beat the Sonics were the plethora of charges that killed Sonic runs, the Sonics' poor defensive rebounding, and a lack of offensive execution.

By the second quarter, the fans in the Key were moaning at the incessant whistles and the sight of purple clad dinosaurs flailing in the wind. The irritation with the bad calls led to Nate picking up a technical in the first half. Lewis followed suit by picking up a technical after he fouled out in the fourth quarter.

The Sonics finished the game with 30 fouls and 19 free throw attempts to the Jazz's 19 fouls and 32 free throw attempts. Another fact to note is that the majority of the Jazz's free throws came in the first half, as they put the Sonics away, while the majority of the Sonics' came in the second.

The Sonics never found an offensive rhythm against the Jazz. Payton was not playing well, Baker was only given the ball at the top of the key and only got about three touches in the post, and Lewis disappeared, as did Barry. The Sonics failed to get a transition game started on Saturday, probably because the Jazz were living at the line, and thus there was very little opportunity to run. That, combined with a miserable shooting night from behind the arc (4-14), left the Sonics unable to find a way to score and the game became an ugly, boring, game that was perfectly suited for the Jazz and their senior citizens.

Sidenotes:
The Sonics were also destroyed on the boards. They finished the game with 29 rebounds, led by the 10 of Lewis. The Sonics had 10 offensive boards and 19 defensive boards to the Jazz’s 45 rebounds -- 29 defensive and 16 offensive. Seattle was without center Calvin Booth, who was sidelined with a nagging ankle sprain that has affected him since the start of the season.

SC.com Player of the Game: A nice effort in an otherwise ugly game from second year man Mason, who has shown an improved jumper this season.