This was one of the games that playoff contenders have to win; the wins or losses that seperate teams that play on into May from those who are hoping their ping-pong ball is drawn at the Lottery.

Last year, few Seattle SuperSonic losses were looked back on with such scrutiny as an opening night 94-88 defeat in Vancouver to a 23-59 Grizzlie squad.

Today, the Sonics headed into the Heartland for their first meeting with the now-Memphis Grizzlies. With the game the first of a back-to-back set, and following the team's poor performance on Friday night, losing at home to Philadelphia, the Sonics seemed to have all the motivation they needed to dominate the lowly Grizzlies. However, Memphis has been a tough team of late, beating the Knicks in the Garden and the Lakers on consecutive nights in late December.

In the first quarter, Memphis showed that kind of potential while the Sonics looked like the same unfamiliar squad which struggled to so much as put together consecutive baskets on Friday night. The Grizzlies opened a six point lead before the Sonics scored, and took advantage of several Seattle offensive miscues.

Perhaps the problem was the Sonics starters; with reserves Vladimir Radmanovic and Desmond Mason, who both played key roles all game long, in, the Sonics came back to score 29 points in the second quarter. Radmanovic's six second quarter points were helpful, but it was Gary Payton who turned up his intensity level, scoring 10 points as the Sonics took an eight point lead, 48-40, to halftime.

In the second half, Payton and the Sonics took right off where they had finished the first half. Seattle got back to back three pointers to start the half from Radmanovic and Brent Barry, extending their lead to 14. Halfway through the quarter, Payton went on a 7-0 run all by himself which put the Sonics ahead by 19, their biggest margin of the game. In all, Payton scored his team's final 10 points of the third quarter.

However, this edition of the Grizzlies won't just run into the woods when confronted by challenges like the one Payton posed. Instead, they finished the quarter on a 12-3 run to cut the lead to a managable nine points.

Throughout the early part of the final period, the two teams traded shots, a favorable proposition for the Sonics, who maintained a lead of between seven and 10 points. At the seven minute mark, Coach Nate McMillan decided to go extremely small, putting in a lineup of Payton, Barry, Mason, Rashard Lewis, and Radmanovic as a 6-10, 227 pound center. The move worked, as the Sonics had the energy they needed to keep the Grizzlies from mounting a final run. An ensuing 9-2 Sonic run, with six of the points coming from Lewis, extended the lead to 15 with four minutes left in the game, ending it for all intensive purposes. The Grizzlies chipped slightly into the lead to provide an 89-77 final.

The Sonics were led by excellent play from their backcourt. Payton, recovering from a 6 for 15 shooting performance against Philadelphia, scored 24 points, added 11 assists for a double-double, and 6 rebounds. Barry quietly went about his business, scoring 16 points with 8 rebounds and 6 assists. Lewis added 19 points and 6 boards. Radmanovic, off the bench, had perhaps his best all-around game of the season, scoring 13 points, grabbing 9 rebounds, and making 3 three pointers. He also added 5 assists.

Jason Williams may have led the Grizzlies in scoring with 19 points, but had a miserable shooting day, hitting only 8 of 23 shots. In a similar good news/bad news vein, he had 11 assists but also 6 turnovers. Rookie Pau Gasol was impressive, making 7 of 9 shots for 16 points and adding 8 rebounds. Battier chipped in 11 points and 6 boards.

Notes:
The Sonics benefitted from hot outside shooting, making 10 of 18 from three point range ... Art Long started for the Sonics, but played only 9 minutes ... Vin Baker struggled with his game despite the Grizzlies' lack of size inside, bringing only 6 points and 3 rebounds in 26 minutes ... for the second straight game, the Sonics struggled at the free throw line, making only 7 of 12 attempts ... reserve Stromile Swift led Memphis with 8 rebounds ... fellow reserve Rodney Buford came out shooting, making 4 of 13 attempts for 8 points.

SC.com Player of the Game: Hard to disagree with Gary Payton as the selection here. The anti-Williams, Payton had as many assists and took less shots, but scored more points and had fewer turnovers.