SuperSonics 118, Clippers 87
LOS ANGELES (AP) — While 16 NBA teams are looking forward to the postseason, the Seattle SuperSonics and Los Angeles Clippers are among the 13 going home for the summer.
Seattle's Ray Allen figures it will take about a week to set in — when he's watching the playoffs on television.
”Being a good team in this league means you win the championship, you win the division title or you win the conference title,” Allen said after getting 26 points and 11 assists to lead the Sonics to a 118-87 season-ending victory over the Clippers on Wednesday night.
The win was Seattle's most one-sided triumph of the season, but it wasn't very satisfying considering the Sonics missed the playoffs for the second straight year.
”My main goal was to get into the playoffs,” Seattle's Rashard Lewis said. ”These last five or 10 games, it's been frustrating and disappointing knowing we didn't have a chance. We've got to beef up and get stronger. I think we need some big men on the inside that can help us.”
Vladimir Radmanovic added 25 points and Calvin Booth scored 12 to equal his season high for the Sonics, who finished with a 37-45 record — their worst since they went 31-51 in 1985-86.
”I thought we came in to win the game: respect the game, respect each other,” Sonics coach Nate McMillan said. ”I thought we did that.”
Bobby Simmons scored a career-high 24 points and tied his career best with 10 rebounds for the injury-depleted Clippers, who lost 14 of their last 15 games to finish with a 28-54 record, giving them one more win than last season.
”I'm happy I played as well as I did,” said Simmons, who shot 7-of-13 and made 10 of 15 free throws. ”Unfortunately, tonight was our last game. Our team can only get better.”
Eddie House and Chris Wilcox added 12 points each and Elton Brand had 10 points and nine rebounds for the Clippers, who missed the playoffs for the seventh straight year.
”You can't feel good about the season,” Brand said. ”The guys played hard, but we were definitely overmatched at times, and guys got hurt on top of that. We just have to get better.”
Coach Mike Dunleavy, who signed a four-year, $10 million contract last summer, is optimistic that's going to happen.
”I'm excited about the upcoming offseason,” he said. ”I think we are well-poised for the draft and free agency. We went through a bunch of injuries and played only 36 games with our starting lineup. Plus the way we ended the season with so many injuries was really tough.”
The Sonics led all the way, outscoring the Clippers 9-2 to begin the game and extending their lead to 12 points after eight minutes on a three-point play by Reggie Evans and a 3-pointer by Allen. It was 29-15 entering the second quarter.
The Sonics outscored the Clippers 24-6 to finish the first period and start the second for a 47-21 lead, prompting boos from the home crowd. Radmanovic shot 6-of-8 for 14 points during the spurt.
Seattle led 65-41 at halftime. The Clippers didn't pose a serious threat after that in suffering their most lopsided loss of the season.
Notes: The game was played before a sellout crowd of 19,362 on Fan Appreciation Night. … The Sonics have won 46 of the last 52 games between the teams including 12 of the last 13 in Los Angeles. … The Clippers were 22-25 after 47 games before losing 29 of their last 35. … The Sonics lost seven of their last 10 games. … Corey Maggette, the Clippers' leading scorer with a 20.7-point average, missed his third straight game because of a strained right hamstring.