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 It was an impressive home finale for a Seattle team that might be playing in Oklahoma City next season and is putting the finishing touches on the worst record in franchise history.
The crowd roared as much for the effort on the floor as the rare appearance of former star Gary Payton in the stands.
The Sonics outhustled and outplayed the playoff-bound Mavericks giving their fans something to be proud of. Earl Watson led Seattle with 21 points and 10 assists, while Nick Collison had 18 points and 11 rebounds as Seattle scored the final 10 points and handed Dallas a second straight loss.
Dirk Nowitzki led Dallas with 32 points and Seattle native Jason Terry added 25.
But what made this game special was the possibility of it being the last game in Seattle for the franchise after 41 years here.
Owner Clay Bennett will have his efforts to relocate the Sonics to Oklahoma City debated at the NBA Board of Governors meeting later this week in New York.
Last week, e-mail messages between Bennett and team co-owners appeared to show Bennett misled NBA commissioner David Stern on the group's intentions to move the team to Oklahoma City before all avenues for a new arena in Seattle were closed.
The messages have become part of the team's dispute with the city of Seattle over the two years remaining on its KeyArena lease, with a trial scheduled for June. Bennett's goal is to have the Sonics playing in Oklahoma City for the 2008-09 season.
The latest news only heightened the disdain Sonics' fans feel toward their owner, spewed in derisive chants about Bennett that bubbled periodically during the game.
But that contempt for Bennett was never directed at the Sonics' players, many of which have expressed surprise at the support they've received in a season that'll be remembered mostly for losing. The Sonics are 19-62.
Payton, who played most of his career in Seattle, showed up for the first time this season, specifically to show his support for the team.
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"The simple fact is we want to try and save the team. It's not gone yet," Payton said. "Everybody has to try and buckle down in the next couple months and see what can happen. It's not looking good, as people are saying, but you always want to try."
Payton left his seat near the court about halfway through the fourth quarter, missing Seattle's finishing charge.
Nowitzki's second 3-pointer of the fourth quarter gave Dallas an 91-88 lead and Terry hit consecutive baskets to push the lead to six.
Collison answered with a three-point play for Seattle and Durant saved a jump ball from going out of bounds, diving on the floor and getting a timeout. Johan Petro then hit a 15-footer and after Eddie Jones missed an open 3, Durant swished a 15-foot fadeaway to give Seattle a 96-95 lead with 41 seconds left.
Durant capped the victory with a breakaway layup with 14 seconds left and Jason Kidd missed a potential tying 3-pointer with 3 seconds left.
Notes: Chants of "Save our Sonics" and signs chastising state government officials were also prevalent. ... Dallas F Jerry Stackhouse was inactive with a sore groin, but coach Avery Johnson said Stackhouse will practice on Tuesday and play in Dallas' regular season finale Wednesday against New Orleans.
[Associated Press; By TIM BOOTH]
Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This
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