It's a simple recipe for success. First, lose three or four games in a row. Then schedule the defending World Champs. Sound a little funny? Well, that's the ticket to a sure victory for the Seattle Supersonics, who rebounded from an 0-4 week with a resounding 104-93 victory over the two-time defending champion Los Angeles Lakers this evening in the Staples Center

Last season, the Sonics were the only Western Conference team to sweep the season series from the Lakers, winning twice both in Seattle and in Los Angeles. However, it appeared that domination was over when the Lakers beat the Sonics by double-digits on November 30 in KeyArena despite having Shaquille O'Neal ejected prior to the conclusion of the first quarter.

Just as in their first matchup, the Sonics and Lakers went back and forth in the first quarter. With the Sonics forced to use journeyman (and former Laker) Antonio Harvey as their starting center, O'Neal had 8 points in the quarter, on 4 of 5 shooting. He also added 6 rebounds. However, the Sonics also recieved strong offensive performances in the early going from their top two scorers, Gary Payton and Vin Baker. Payton had 10, Baker 16, as the Sonics scored a season-best 35 points in the first quarter. An 8-0 Sonic run in the final two minutes put Seattle in command of a previously tied game, and they took a 5 point lead to the second quarter.

Neither team strung together more than three straight baskets in the second quarter, or was able to control the game's momentum. Former UCLA star Earl Watson provided a lift for the Sonics in the second quarter, scoring 6 points, and they held a lead of 7 at the half.

Early in the third quarter, Los Angeles tightened up the game with an 11-0 run, with all 11 points coming from O'Neal and Kobe Bryant. At its conclusion, the game was tied at 67 halfway through the third quarter. The Lakers took their last lead with a minute and a half left in the ballgame. A Slava Medvedenko layup put them up 77-76. After this, the Sonics dominated the rest of the way, beginning with a 9-0 run to close the quarter which gave them an 8-point lead.

With only 12 minutes seperating them and not only their biggest victory of the season, but also Los Angeles' first home loss of the season, the Sonics deliberately slowed the game, taking almost all the time off the shot clock each possession. The strategy worked, as each offense bogged down. The Lakers got as close as 7, with nine minutes left, but they would go five minutes until their next score. By that point, a 7-0 Sonic run, with five of the points coming from Watson, put the game almost out of reach. Los Angeles stayed cold from the field down the stretch, and the Sonics won handily despite a disturbing inability to make free throws in the final minutes, when they hit just 4 of 10. Baker put an exclamation mark on the game with a powerful tip dunk with 21 seconds left.

Payton led the Sonics with 29 points despite not making a single free throw. He hit 14 of 29 from the field, and added a team-best 10 assists for a double-double. Baker, who struggled last week, hit 10 of 22 shots to finish with 27 points, and added 9 boards. Rashard Lewis continued a recent hot streak by scoring 17 on 6 of 9 shooting, and also had 10 rebounds for another double-double. In his return to the city where he played college ball, Watson had 14 points off the bench, on 6 of 10 shooting. Fellow rookie Vladimir Radmanovic had 8 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 steals. Perhaps more importantly, the two combined for just one turnover in 54 minutes. Art Long grabbed 9 rebounds for the Sonics before fouling out in just 11 minutes.

O'Neal was dominant for the Lakers, scoring 37 points on 18-27 shooting, blocking 6 shots, and grabbing 16 rebounds. However, he shot just 1 of 7 from the free throw line. Despite the absence of the two players who primarily defended him last year (Desmond Mason, on the injured list, and Ruben Patterson, in Portland), Bryant struggled mightily with both his shot and foul trouble. He finished with 16 points on 7 of 23 shooting, along with 5 personal fouls. Medvedenko was extremely effective in 12 minutes of playing time, hitting all 5 of his shots for 10 points and grabbing 5 boards. Derek Fisher, starting for the first time since returning from injury, had 9 points and 8 assists, but shot a disappointing 1 of 7 from beyond the arc.

Notes:
The Sonics activated ex-Laker big man Antonio Harvey off the injured list before the game to fill the spot they had left open since disabling Desmond Mason a week ago today. Harvey started at center and played 19 minutes ... Harvey replaced Calvin Booth in the starting lineup. Booth continues to struggle with tendinitis in his ankle ... Brent Barry had a quiet night, scoring just 4 points ... the Lakers' two most prolific scoring reserves, Lindsey Hunter and Robert Horry, combined to shoot 2 for 12 from the field ... the Lakers shot a miserable 4 of 20 from three point range, while the Sonics were a sizzling 5 of 9 ... spurred by O'Neal, Los Angeles shot only 9 of 21 (42.9%) from the free throw line.

SC.com Player of the Game: On a night in which there were many worthy candidates, this award goes to Gary Payton for his all-around offensive contributions.