On four or five ocassions throughout an NBA season, a team will simply have a game where nothing goes right. Shots don't fall, balls don't roll to the team's hands, the calls don't go their way, and no lineup change or motivational speech can do anything about it.

Tonight was one of those nights for the Seattle SuperSonics, as they played arguably their worst 48 minute session of the season in falling to the Philadelphia 76ers, 87-77.

From the beginning, it was apparent that the five day layoff the Sonics had between their 101-76 win over the Toronto Raptor and tonight's game had left them rusty, as opposed to well rested. After hitting the game's opening shot, the Sonics went ice cold. The worst offender was starting center Art Long, who had played well in the Sonics' six game winning streak, which was snapped with the loss. Long was active on the glass, helping the Sonics build a 27-22 board advantage during the first half, but struggled horribly to convert any of the good looks he got off teammates' penetration and second chances. He made just 3 of a season high 13 attempts before being dispatched to the bench early in the first quarter.

The Sonics were able to play well enough throughout most of the first and second quarters to keep the game close, but the Sixers maintained an advantage on the scoreboard, thanks largely to the free throw line. Philadelphia made 12 of 15 free throws in the first half, while the Sonics missed all four of their attempts.

A Philly run late in the second quarter pushed their lead to 49-40 at the break, with the Sonics shooting just 34% at the time.

In the third quarter, defending NBA MVP Allen Iverson began to get off a bit. Making his first appearance in Seattle in two years after missing last year's game with injury, Iverson scored a fairly quiet 22 points. After he heated up, former Defensive Player of the Year Gary Payton rotated onto him and slowed his offensive production.

However, the damage had been done. By the third quarter's close, the Sonics' shooting hadn't improved much, and they were down by 15 points. Sonic guard Shammond Williams, perhaps in the game to showcase his skills for a future trade, had an excellent fourth quarter. He scored all of his team best 15 points in the quarter, keeping things respectable and giving the Seattle crowd some hope of a comeback.

Alas, it was not to be. Philadelphia simply had too much on this evening for the Sonics to overcome, and their poor shooting doomed them. By game's end, it was a certified blowout, though Iverson and fellow Sixer starters Eric Snow and Derrick Coleman remained in the game with just two minutes left before Philadelphia coach Larry Brown removed them, despite a date with Portland looming tomorrow night for Philly.

Williams' season-high 15 points came on 5 of 7 shooting in just 20 minutes played. Rashard Lewis also added 15 points, along with 8 boards. Payton finished with 13 points, though he shot a middling 6 of 15. Long led the team with 9 rebounds, 6 of them offensive, in just 14 minutes of action. Vin Baker chipped in 8 boards, 5 on offense, while shooting just 3 of 9. Rookie Vladimir Radmanovic also had 8 boards and 8 points, including two threes.

Iverson's 22 points on 8 of 21 shooting led Philadelphia. Starting forwards Matt Harpring and Derrick Coleman each scored 14, with Coleman also grabbing 10 boards for a double-double. Defending Sixth Man of the Year Aaron McKie had 12 points off the bench, while Dikembe Mutombo had 9 points, 8 boards, and 5 blocks.

Notes:
Despite shooting much worse, the Sonics topped the Sixers on the boards, 47-40 ... aside from Williams, the Sonics shot 27 of 77 (35%) on the night ... Payton topped all players with 7 assists ... the Sonics committed 20 turnovers as a team. The worst offenders were Brent Barry and Radmanovic (4 apiece) with Desmond Mason, Williams, and Lewis each guilty of 3 ... Barry, who struggled at both ends, played but 22 minutes ... the Sixers had 16 steals, topped by Eric Snow, Iverson, Coleman, and rookie Speedy Claxton, who all had 3 ... in his return to the city in which he started his career, Snow struggled with his shot, making just 4 of 11 for 8 points.