As star guard Gary Payton watched from the bench because of a strained hip flexor, the Seattle Sonics looked sluggish for most of the evening before a bench lead run got the Sonics as close as within two points of the Denver Nuggets with 1.9 seconds left in the ballgame. However, a Vladimir Radmanovic jumper at the buzzer was blocked by Cedric Ceballos and the Nuggets held on to hand the Sonics their first loss of pre-season, 94-92.

Starters Shammond Williams, Desmond Mason, Rashard Lewis, Vin Baker, and Calvin Booth kept the Sonics close in the early going, with the Nuggets eventually pulling out to a six point lead at the close of the first quarter. In the second quarter, the Sonics went to the end of their bench, playing several third stringers as Denver extended its lead to 46-32 at the half. In an up and down third quarter, the Nuggets kept their lead at 12. It remained in double figures for most of the second half until a Sonic run, lead by guard Brent Barry, and forward Jamal Kendrick, made the game competitive. Barry's three pointer with 3.5 seconds left drew the Sonics within one point, 93-92. The Sonics fouled Denver guard Voshon Lenard, who made his first free throw but missed the second. After a series of timeouts, Ceballos' block sealed the game.

The Sonics were lead by Barry's 21 points and 7 assists on 7 of 11 shooting and the 13 points on 6 of 6 shooting of Kendrick. Eddie Elisma also added 8 points and a team-high 7 rebounds. Denver was lead by the 19 points and 11 rebounds of Raef LaFrentz, who has to step up in the absence of star forward Antonio McDyess. Voshon Lenard, with 16, and Kevin Willis, with 10, also scored in double figures for the Nuggets, while free agent pickup Avery Johnson dropped 10 assists.

The main story for the Sonics this pre-season has been Baker. He started well enough, completing a three point play on the team's first posession, but missed his next 4 shots and finished with just 5 points and 1 rebound in 11 minutes.

Elisma and Kendrick both made strong cases to avoid being amongst Seattle's first cuts with their play. Art Long, another player on the bubble, also played well, scoring 6 points and grabbing 4 boards. On the other hand, guards Anthony Johnson and Eddie Gill -- who each scored 2 points, Johnson on 6 shots, did not impress, nor did JaRon Rush, who was held scoreless. Rookie guard Earl Watson set out his second straight game with a sore heel, while Jerome James did not get in to give more minutes to players fighting for spots. The Sonics will likely make their first cuts tomorrow.