The last time the Seattle SuperSonics and the Philadelphia 76ers squared off, January 4 at the KeyArena in Seattle, the Sonics couldn't buy a bucket, with 37% shooting causing them to drop a 87-77 decision which ended the team's six-game winning streak. Most Sonic fans attributed the shooting woes at least as much, if not more, to the team's long layoff before the game as opposed to the ability of a strong Philly defense. If today's afternoon Sixer-Sonic matchup in Philadelphia is to be believed, it was definitely the former, not the latter. The Sonics were effective and efficient inside and out, setting a team record by making 66.1% of their shots in a 109-98 victory that wasn't as close as the score indicated.

The Sonics ended a close first half of basketball with a buzzer-beating three pointer by forward Rashard Lewis. The shot extended Seattle's lead to four points at the midway point, and also provided the team momentum it carried over to the third quarter. After trading baskets in the opening minutes of the period, the Sonics went on an 11-2 run that extended their lead to the largest it had been all game, 13 points. The seemingly inevitable Philadelphia counter never came, and the Sonics went on another 11-3 run to close the quarter with a nearly insurmountable lead of 20 points, 85-65. For the twelve minute stretch, the Sonics shot a mind-boggling 80% from the field while also clamping down the interior on defense and avoiding the turnovers that had plagued them in the first half, when they had double figures.

In the fourth quarter, the Sixers attempted to mount a furious comeback, but were able to do no better than trade baskets, with Seattle not allowing Philadelphia to build any momentum or get the home crowd into the game. At the 3:19 mark, down by double digits yet, Sixer coach Larry Brown went to his bench and conceded. After that point, his troops did make a mini-run, taking advantage of some turnover-proneness from Gary Payton, who had an awful eight in the game, technical fouls by Payton and Mason, and more chances to get to the free throw line.

They did get the lead into signle digits in the final minute, but by then the only drama was whether Seattle would eclipse the team-record of 64.9% shooting from the field in a game, set April 15, 1996 at Houston in a 112-106 victory. In this way, the late turnovers were actually a benefit -- between giving the ball up and going to the free throw line, the Sonics did not attempt a shot in the final minute and coasted to the new record. Every individual Sonic shot at least 50% from the field, with only Shammond Williams (1 of 2) not above that mark.

Seattle took advantage of the absence of Sixer forward Derrick Coleman to surprisingly dominate the interior. Dikembe Mutombo, who disrupted the Sonic offense and was responsible for much of the Sonics' poor shooting on the 4th, was neutralized by the Sonics' efforts to draw him away from the basket on the pick-and-roll. Mutombo had just six rebounds and no blocked shots.

Jerome James, playing heavy minutes for the first time since November, provided the Sonics a huge lift off the bench in the first and third quarters. Still seeing only 16 minutes, James filled up the box score with 9 points, 5 boards, and a pair of blocked shots. As a team, the Sonics actually bettered Philadelphia in both rebounds (35-33) and blocked shots (3-1). It was a true team effort on the boards, with Vin Baker leading the team with seven. Baker was also strong offensively, getting his outside game going after early foul trouble to finish with 20 points before fouling out late in the contest.

On the perimeter, the Sonics got another strong performance from Payton, who has been playing excellent ball of late. Wreaking havoc on the pick-and-roll, Payton scored 28 points on 11 of 16 shooting and added 11 assists. Lewis added 5 of 8 shooting from beyond the arc and 17 points, while Mason came off the bench to add 16 on 6 of 8 shooting as he continued a recent offensive renaisannce.

Philadelphia could counter with only defending MVP Allen Iverson. Iverson, who has been hot of late, baffled the Sonics' slower defenders by scoring 38 points on 14 of 25 shooting. However, he had little help. The rest of the Philadelphia roster shot a miserable 21 of 54 from the field, and the Sixers' best offense much of the game was getting to the line, where they scored 23 points. With James in the game, the Sonic defense effectively collapsed the lane against drivers, forcing Philadelphia to the perimeter.

The Sonics' strong shooting effort first became apparent in the first quarter, when they took a 26-20 lead on the strength of near-70% shooting despite a rash of turnovers. The shooting, as it often does, started to reverse in the second quarter, as Philly kept the game close until halftime, after which they were burned by a sizzling Sonic offense.