So, a point guard helped lead a Sonic charge to take a must-win game on their home court. Must have been Gary Payton, right? Amazing how well he's playing at age 33?

Wrong.

A rookie coming off the bench served as the Sonics' catalyst? Great to see Vladimir Radmanovic paying immediate dividends at the tender age of 20, right?

Wrong.

A point guard off the bench was instrumental in the Sonics' run, scoring double figures? Oh, now it has to be Shammond Williams, right?

Wrong again.

While you're pouring over your media guides, let us fill you in. Earl Watson can play NBA ball, and he can do it as a rookie despite having been just the 40th pick in last June's draft. After running out to an early double digit lead against the Golden State Warriors, the Sonics' offense -- and the crowd -- was lifeless in the third quarter. Enter Watson.

Inspired by the rookie point's tenacious d and surprising finishes on the fast break against bigger opponents, the Sonics embarked on a 10-2 run at the end of the third and fourth quarters. Watson himself capped the upsurge with his fifth steal of the game and an improbable reverse layup while being fouled by Golden State's Adonal Foyle. Though Watson missed the free throw, the Sonics had stolen back momentum and gotten the crowd -- announced at 11, 714 but in reality much smaller -- back into the game. Another Sonic run in the closing minutes, as Rashard Lewis, whose shot had been off much of the game, successfully scored on three of four posessions and assisted Payton on the fourth, led the way, was enough to put away a pesky Golden State Warrior team, 100-91.

The Warriors never led in the ballgame, as the Sonics came out hot with a 9-1 run before the Warriors had even mentally gotten on the court. Seattle's hot shooting continued, and the Sonics took a 34-21 lead after one quarter. The Warriors, however, were able to work their way back into the game by exploiting their tremendous size advantage on the boards. The Sonics played for the third straight game without any of their projected top three big men -- Calvin Booth, in street clothes, and Vin Baker and Predrag Drobnjak, who are on the injured list. This allowed Golden State, and the NBA's top individual rebounder, forward Danny Fortson, to grab a 31-13 rebound advantage at the half and climb to within 7 at halftime. In the third quarter, they continued to cut into the deficit, briefly tying the game at 74, until the Watson-led run put the Sonics ahead for good.

The Sonics were again led in scoring by Payton, who had his third 30 point effort in four games, hitting exactly 30 on 14 of 22 shooting. He only managed an uncharacteristic -- and season low -- 5 assists, however. Lewis finished with 18 points and 10 rebounds, but was just 2 of from three point range. Desmond Mason, hot in the first quarter, rebounded from a poor game against Phoenix to finish with 16 points on 6 of 13 shooting. In addition to his 5 steals, Watson scored 13 points on 5 of 8 shooting and handed out 4 assists. Brent Barry, who was surprisingly inept from the free throw and three point lines -- making 3 of 6 and 0 of 3, respectively -- added 11 points and a team high 6 assists.

Larry Hughes and Antawn Jamison each scored 16 to lead the Warriors. Jamison, who blistered the Sonics' defense to the tune of 51 points last December, shot just 7-20 from the field. Hughes sat out much of the fourth quarter in favor of backup Mookie Blaylock, but shot 6 of 10. Bob Sura was effective in the Warriors' countering small lineup off the bench, contributing 15 points on 6 of 9. Rookie Jason Richardson had 12 points for the Warriors along with 9 rebounds. Fortson was effective, grabbing 12 boards in 21 minutes, but his opportunities were limited by the Sonics' use of a small lineup that made it difficult for him to match up defensively.

Starting center Jerome James was plagued by foul trouble, playing only 11 minutes and picking up 5 fouls before Sonic head coach Nate McMillan went with perhaps his smallest lineup yet, Watson, Payton, Barry, Mason and Lewis -- as a 220 pound center ... reserve Antonio Harvey saw his first action of the season after James' first quarter foul trouble, and finished with 2 points and 1 rebound in 9 minutes ... rookie Radmanovic's minutes were severely limited, as he sat out the entire second half ... the thin bench meant that three Sonic starters played at least 40 minutes ... with 4 minutes to go in the fourth quarter, while the outcome was still in doubt, Payton and Warrior rookie Troy Murphy were involved in a verbal altercation which led to technicals for each. Murphy, who was ejected earlier this season after a run-in with Portland's Dale Davis, did not back down from the future Hall of Famer, calling for the ball after the incident and attacking the rim before being fouled by Payton ... the Sonics forced 23 turnovers, converting them into 30 points.

SC.com Player of the Game: Partially because GP can't win it every night, but mostly because of his own fine play, we're awarding this one to Earl 'The Pearl' Watson.