Like a boxer on the ropes, the Seattle SuperSonics were reeling late in the third quarter of their contest tonight with the Milwaukee Bucks. After going 12 rounds in a 111-101 loss the previous night half the country away in Charlotte, the Sonics were weary. A 9-2 Milwaukee run that had given them a seven point lead with 3:10 to go in the third quarter of a close game and lit a fire under the home crowd had left the Sonics vulnerable. Suddenly and without warning, the Sonics counter-punched, and it was a devestating knockout blow. Instead of folding like a deck of cards, the Sonics stood tall, closing the quarter with a 10-0 run capped by a Brent Barry shot-clock buzzer-beating fadeaway bank three pointer that gave them a three point lead after three quarters.

Even the new period couldn't help the Bucks, who were discombobulated offensively and helpless defensively against the Sonic onslaught. Four more baskets made it a remarkable 18-0 run and gave Seattle a double-digit lead by the time the Bucks were finally able to get off the mat. After going seven minutes and five seconds over two quarters without scoring, the Bucks got a Tim Thomas free throw to cut the lead to 10 as both teams slumped offensively.

With time running out, the Sonics matched every Milwaukee jab with an uppercut of their own. The Bucks did get as close as seven just outside of four minutes after a Thomas three-pointer was followed by a Michael Redd dunk off a Sonic turnover. Seattle answered with Payton slicing through the defense for a layin and Desmond Mason tipping in a Payton miss the next trip down.

The bell officially rang on Milwaukee's chances when Rashard Lewis nailed a three-pointer from the quarter with a minute and a half left to put the Sonics up 12. After that, it was academic as the Sonics finished up an impressive 99-88 victory to give them two victories on their week-long East Coast swing.

The Sonics would never have been in a position to take command of the game with a run without the sharp shooting of guard Barry, who has been slumping of late. He was almost unstoppable all night long, making 11 of 14 shots -- including 6 of 8 from beyond the arc -- to finish the night with 29 points, just two off his career-high set earlier this season. For good measure, he added a team-best 10 rebounds.

In the first quarter, Barry's shot-for-shot equal was Milwaukee guard Sam Cassell. Sam I Am started out on fire, with 16 points in the first quarter alone as the Bucks took an eight-point lead. He finished up 11 of 20 from the field for 29 points, but it was not enough to counteract the poor shooting of backcourt-mate Ray Allen. The perennial all-star made just 4 of 15 shots, 1 of 10 beyond the arc, and was well off his season average with 11 points.

Payton also had a bit of an off-night, as the effects of playing 45 hard minutes in trying to rally the Sonics from a 25 point halftime defecit the previous evening at Charlotte were apparent. Payton made just 10 of 22 shots, but ran the Sonic offense crisply with 11 assists and just one turnover. He also got help from not only Barry but also Lewis, who started off slowly but heated up in the second-half to finish with 20 points on 8 of 13 shooting.

The perimeter players were key for the Sonics because they got only minimal production from forward Vin Baker. Baker injured his left shoulder with under a minute left in the first quarter and did not return until halftime. After that, he struggled a bit in the post, shooting 4 of 14. With only seven rebounds from Baker and starting center Art Long, the Sonics needed a team effort to only be outrebounded by three boards despite the 14 in 20 minutes from Milwaukee's starting center, Joel Przybilla. Along with Barry's 10, Mason grabbed 9 rebounds off the bench.