For the second straight game, the Seattle Supersonics were in it until the final seconds. However, just as they did Wednesday night in a 95-91 loss at Detroit, the Sonics made critical mistakes down the stretch in allowing the woeful Miami Heat to steal a 98-94 decision at KeyArena tonight.

It seemed the Sonics had the game won when, with just over 10 seconds left, Miami guard Anthony Carter misfired on a jumper. Sonic forward Rashard Lewis secured the rebound. However, instead of looking to move the ball around in order to run more clock or get the ball to a better free throw shooter, Lewis held it and was fouled immediately.

Lewis hit the first free throw to give the Sonics an 88-86 lead, but was off on the second, allowing the Heat a chance to tie. After a timeout moved the ball to halfcourt, Eddie Jones was nearly forced into a turnover under duress along the sideline. However, he managed to get the ball to newly acquired guard Jim Jackson, playing just his second game with Miami. After faking to create room between himself and defender Gary Payton, Jackson buried a 17 foot fallaway jumper with ice water in his veins to deadlock the game at 88 all and send it to overtime.

With Vin Baker sidelined with six fouls and Calvin Booth still bothered by lingering effects of a sprained ankle, the Sonics were forced to stick with an extremely small lineup to start overtime, which featured the 225-pound Sonic rookie Vladimir Radmanovic attempting to defend Miami all-star center Alonzo Mourning. On offense, the Sonics suddenly went ice cold from the field, making just two field goals in the overtime period. A 6-0 Miami run to start ot all but ended any doubt as to who the victor would be with over two minutes left on the clock, as disgruntled Sonic fans began heading to the exits. The Sonics got as close as 97-94 with just under 10 seconds remaining, but Jones hit one of two free throws to seal the deal.

Though the Sonics blew numerous opportunities at the end of regulation and overtime, the game was truly lost in the first quarter, as the Sonics got off to a remarkably slow start. Poor shooting and a slowdown pace created by a plethora of foul calls meant that the Sonics were able to score just 16 points. Already thin up front, Seattle was not helped by the fact that three big men -- Baker, Booth, and Art Long -- picked up two personal fouls each in the first.

The second quarter saw the Sonics fare little better on the big man front, as Baker, Booth, and Long each picked up a third foul, Booth just seconds after entering the game, and after Baker's third. That forced the Sonics into inserting little-used second-year man Olumide Oyedeji. Unsurprisingly, Mourning, who showed few ill effects of either his long-term kidney problems or this season's food poisoning bout, which kept him out of the first Seattle-Miami matchup, dominated the interior. However, some timely three point shooting as halftime loomed allowed the Sonics to cut into a double digit lead, which was 7 at the half.

After halftime, Seattle came out with renewed vigor, hoping to avoid the embarrasment of losing for the second time this season to a 2-14 Heat squad which has been simply miserable thus far this season. For most of the period, the Sonics were unable to get over the hump and take the lead in the game. That happened for the first time late in the period, as the Sonics went ahead 66-65 on a pair of free throws from Brent Barry. He then hit an important three pointer at the quarter's end to give the Sonics a 69-68 lead entering the final quarter.

Despite the three, the Sonics could not sustain the momentum. Miami looked to control the game as they held an 86-83 advantage with a minute and a half left to go. The Sonics had one last run left in them. Radmanovic -- who missed a key free throw on Wednesday night at Detroit -- sunk a pair of foul shots to cut the lead to one. After a stop on the other end, Payton hit a 17-foot jumper to give the Sonics the lead with 35 seconds to play. Miami's possession appeared to be over when Carter came up short on an attempt in the lane. Instead, Barry's one hand attempt at a rebound rolled off his hand and out of bounds and Miami got another shot with 21 seconds left. Things really looked good for Seattle when Carter missed a second attempt, but instead that turned out to be only the beginning of the end.

While he continued to struggle from the field, shooting but 11 of 28, Payton contributed in a number of ways, missing by one rebound his second straight triple-double. He led the club with 25 points and 11 assists, and, as noted, had 9 boards. Although Lewis missed the crucial free throw at the end of regulation, his second straight strong effort was critical to the Sonics being in a position to win. Lewis recorded a double-double with 22 points and 11 boards. Barry made a fine living at the free-throw line, hitting 9 of 10 to provide half of his 18 points. He also added 6 boards and 6 assists. Radmanovic finished with double figure scoring for the second straight game, with 12 points, 6 boards, and a shocking 4 blocked shots.

Mourning also benefitted from the charity stripe, hitting 7 of 11 to go along with an impressive 7 of 9 from the field as he finished with 21 points, 12 rebounds, and 5 blocked shots. Jones' shot was off, as he hit just 4 of 14 from the field, but he also made 7 free throws in finishing with 17 points and 9 rebounds. Brian Grant, who has been struggling this season, chipped in 15 points and 11 boards, and Rod Strickland added 15 off the bench for Miami.

Notes:
In a rarity, the Sonics lost despite out-assisting Miami, 23-19 ... Booth was limited by fouls, injuries, and ineffectiveness to 8 minutes, in which he shot 1 of 5 ... Baker fouled out in 24 minutes, while recording the unimpressive line of 5 points (on 2 of 7 shooting) and 2 rebounds ... Shammond Williams had a poor second quarter, shooting 1 of 6 and scoring 3 points, while not handing out any assists ... Earl Watson (2 of 2) was the only Sonic to top 50% from the field ... in a parade of whistles, the officials called 54 fouls on the teams combined, and a total of 71 free throws were shot ... in one 21-second span of the third quarter alone, four fouls were called ... Jackson's critical shot came on an otherwise poor night, as he shot 4 of 10 from the field, had 4 turnovers, and was the only Miami player not to go to the free throw line ... Miami's LaPhonso Ellis also fouled out of the game.

SC.com Player of the Game: Sure, he didn't shoot that well. And yes, he did win it last game. But nearly recording two consecutive triple-doubles is a feat worthy of recognition, which SC.com readily provides to Gary Payton.