Toronto ? The Seattle SuperSonics aren’t satisfied with just having the NBA’s best record.
Rashard Lewis scored 27 points and Ray Allen had 24 to lead the SuperSonics to their ninth straight victory, 101-94 over the Toronto Raptors on Friday night.
Seattle is 9-1.
“We have to get better. We have to start doing some things better to continue to win,” SuperSonics coach Nate McMillan said. “We’re not happy with just winning these games. It’s a way we want to win. We’re working hard and doing some good things, but to beat those good teams in the NBA you’ve got to have consistency in your defensive effort, your halfcourt execution, because teams will find ways to slow you down. We’re finding ways to win games.”
Antonio Daniels scored 12 of his 19 points in the fourth quarter for the surprising SuperSonics, who have won nine straight for the first time since January 1997. Seattle improved to 3-0 on a six-game, 10-day road trip.
“I’m extremely happy, but we have another game Sunday and we don’t want to get too comfortable and too satisfied,” Lewis said. “A lot of teams are going to pay more attention to us.”
The SuperSonics began the night leading the NBA in 3-point accuracy. They went 10-for-19 from behind the arc against Toronto.
Vince Carter had 21 points for the Raptors, losers of five straight.
Fans loudly booed Carter during introductions and almost every time he touched the ball. Carter asked for a trade this summer, and his agent traveled to Toronto on Friday to meet with Raptors general manager Rob Babcock, who is reportedly involved in trade talks with Portland.
“I don’t know what’s going on, I still don’t,” Carter said. “It’s weird, they boo you, then you make a shot, they cheer, so that’s why I’m happy.”
Carter is averaging a career-low 15.6 points. Teammate Jalen Rose spent the previous night thinking about getting traded.
“We had a ton of guys calling each other last night, saying we hope we don’t get traded or that this isn’t our last game,” Rose said.
Rose called Carter when he first heard about the possible deal.
“I just see myself as a throw-in in the whole situation. Every time I hear my name it’s just about my salary and throwing me in the trade just to make it go through,” said Rose, who has three years and more than $45 million left on his contract. “You’ve got to keep your phone lines open, and keep the moving company on hold.”
Seattle’s Danny Fortson capped a 12-2 run in the fourth quarter with an uncontested layup to make it 89-77 with 4:59 left.
Toronto’s Rafer Alston followed with a 3-pointer, and Chris Bosh dunked to cut the lead to seven points, but Lewis followed with a jumper and Allen converted a 3-point play to give Seattle a 12-point with 3:26 left.
Matt Bonner’s layup cut it to five with 47 seconds remaining, but Daniels made four free throws in the final 29 seconds to seal the victory.
