So it was not entirely unexpected that there be a certain amount of grumbling amongst the KeyArena faithful as the home team came out flat, trailing 10-2 early and giving little indication that they were into the game.

The unfaithful were quickly quieted, however, with an outburst for the rest of the half that put Utah in a hole they could never recover from.

They tried valiantly, however, with strong second-half play from Karl Malone, Bryon Russell, and John Stockton making things interesting for the first four minutes of the fourth quarter. After that, Gary Payton returned from a brief rest to start the period and led the Sonics on an extended run that finished the Jazz, got the monkey of Seattle's back, and also pushed them one step closer to returning to the playoffs after a one-year layoff, winning going away, 106-92.

Payton re-entered the game between Bryon Russell free throws at the 8:18 mark of the fourth quarter. Russell made the second to get Utah within striking distance, down eight points. A Rashard Lewis free throw was followed by a sequence from Vin Baker which looked more like the All-Star Baker of bygone days than the player whose value to the team has come under attack of late. First, Baker tipped in a Payton miss. He hustled back on defense to block a shot by Utah rookie Andrei Kirilenko. The ensuing fast break was completed by Lewis, who scored and drew the fifth foul on John Stockton, completing the three-point play to put the Sonics up by 14.

They were not done yet.

A Karl Malone jumper was answered by a jumper from Desmond Mason and a free throw from Randy Livingston before the situation hit rock-bottom for the Jazz, who could not score on three opportunities thanks to offensive rebounds. Payton stuck the dagger in with consecutive scores which pushed the burgeoning Seattle lead to 19, 99-80. At the next dead ball, Jerry Sloan, cognizant of a looming date with Houston tomorrow night, conceded and pulled his starters.

The Sonics' fourth quarter success was set up by a strong second quarter charge led by Brent Barry. The do-it-all Sonic guard was dominant in the period's first two and a half minutes, scoring all eight points by either side on a three, a Sportscenter-worthy three-point play capped by a scoop shot worthy of his father's era, and another jumper. Defensively, he was equally magnificent, blocking a shot and recording a steal as the Sonics took command of the game. They would close the half on a 14-2 run that provided a 15-point halftime lead.

Predictably, the Jazz would not simply roll over, and they began the third quarter with renewed fire. That drew five fouls in the first 153 seconds, and Utah's 13-5 run drew the game within single digits. They would stay that close throughout the quarter, drawing as near as 63-59 before settling for a seven-point margin after three when Baker was unable to knock down a pair of makeable tips.

With Payton out of the game, the Sonics stayed afloat thanks in large part to backup Livingston, who made a pair of critical jumpshots. However, he was merely keeping the point guard position warm for Payton, who showed his old tutor, Stockton, how it's done down the stretch. Because of Payton's continued importance despite aging, the Sonics and their fans received quite a scare early in the second quarter when Payton was sent to the ground hard by Utah center Greg Ostertag on a fast break attempt. After lying motionless throughout a timeout, Payton recovered quickly enough to make a free throw to complete a three-point play.

His continued presence was paramount as Seattle relied upon its trio of stellar perimeter players, Payton, Lewis, and Barry, who combined for 70 points, 15 rebounds (11 from Lewis), 15 assists, and nine steals. Barry and Payton carried the team in the first half as Lewis struggled, but more than made up for it, breaking out for 20 points in the second half.

Seattle's win was critical for playoff positioning on a night when the team chasing both the Sonics and the Jazz, the LA Clippers, lost at home to San Antonio to fall four back of Seattle with 11 games to play. The Sonics' magic number to clinch a playoff berth is now eight. Utah drops to a game and a half back of Seattle, with 12 games left to make up the deficit.

Box Score