Baker Beats Buzzer For Sonics

Oft-maligned Vin Baker showed a fourth-quarter effort that new Seattle SuperSonics coach Nate McMillan has been expecting.

Baker, relegated to the bench when McMillan took over last month, hit a buzzer-beating jumper to lead the Seattle SuperSonics to a 104-102 win over the Charlotte Hornets on Saturday.

Baker scored eight of his 15 points in the final 3:22, capping it with a 19-footer that bounced off the rim and twice off the backboard before falling through the net just as the buzzer sounded.

"This is exactly what I expected when we talked about making this move," McMillan said of his decision to bring Baker off the bench. "I've seen Vin much more aggressive, attacking the defense. We're going to get the ball to him whenever he's in the game."

The former All-Star has had weight problems and a sometimes questionable attitude since coming over in a trade with Milwaukee four years ago. But Baker has scored in double-figures in five straight games, to go along with his game-winner Saturday.

David Wesley led the Hornets with 24 points and tied the game at 102 with a fall-away 3-pointer with 8.4 seconds left.

It was the second straight loss for the Hornets, who had a seven-game winning streak snapped Thursday at Sacramento. The Sonics have won seven of their last nine games.

Gary Payton led Seattle in scoring for the 13th staight game with 21 points. Payton and Brent Barry each had 10 assists.

Barry, making just his fourth start of the year, added 18 points, including a go-ahead 3-pointer with 57.7 seconds that put Seattle up 98-95.

But it was Baker who was big down the stretch. Baker also had six rebounds and four assists in 28 minutes.

"We had two choices," Charlotte coach Paul Silas said of guarding Baker down the stretch. "Double team him or play one on one. I was going to take my chances with Vinny and he made shots."

Jamal Mashburn, the Hornet's leading scorer, added 19 points, but scored just seven in the final three quarters. P.J. Brown added 18 points and a season-high 17 rebounds for Charlotte.

Charlotte was playing without starting center Elden Campbell, who missed his second straight game with an inflamed right elbow.

"Elden's a big body," Silas said. "He was really playing well offensively and defensively before he went down. Hopefully when he comes back we can pick it up again."

The Sonics trailed by 10 points in the first quarter and by nine, 39-30, with 8:03 to go in the first half.

Rashard Lewis scored seven of his 14 points in the next 2:40 as the Sonics outscored the Hornets 11-0. Lewis' 3-pointer with 5:23 left in the half gave the Sonics their first lead since early in the game at 41-39.

Shammond Williams' 3-pointer at the buzzer gave Seattle a 53-52 lead at the half.

Mashburn scored 12 of his points in the first quarter as the Hornets took a 33-25 lead.

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