Payton, Sonics Soar By Rockets

When Gary Payton goes to the bench, the Seattle SuperSonics' offense usually goes with him.

But things were different Sunday as Payton's backup, John Crotty, carried the offense during the fourth quarter with 14 points as the Sonics blew a 17-point lead but rebounded to defeat the Houston Rockets 101-84.

Payton, who scored 30 points, played the first three quarters and took a breather with the Sonics up 65-61. He sat out the first five minutes of the fourth quarter, then returned with the Sonics leading 79-72 and helped them pull away.

"It was a big win for us against a very good team," Sonics coach Paul Westphal said.

Crotty equaled a career-high with 19 points on 8-for-10 shooting with four assists. Detlef Schrempf had 16 points, 10 rebounds and six assists.

"It was a good stretch run for me," Crotty said. "As a point guard, my job is to create for other guys. Tonight, I was able to create for myself."

Payton did not talk with the media after the game.

Charles Barkley of the Rockets gave Payton rave reviews.

"He's a great player and dominated the first half. We knew he would play well."

The Sonics shot 10-for-19 from 3-point range, ended a three-game losing streak and handed the Rockets their second consecutive road loss. Seattle scored 36 points in the fourth quarter, their most productive quarter of the season.

Hkeem Olajuwon led the Rockets with 18 points, Cuttino Mobley had 13 points and Barkley had nine points and 19 rebounds.

Houston coach Rudy Tomjanovich was disappointed with his team's effort against the Sonics, who had lost five of their previous seven games.

"I wish I had an answer for why we came out soft and didn't have the edge against these guys. It was an energy thing."

Crotty, signed as a free agent March 23, scored 10 of the Sonics' first 14 points of the fourth quarter. The Sonics led 79-72 with 6:47 left in the game and the Rockets got no closer the rest of the way.

Payton, Averaging a career-high 22 points per game, equaled that in the first half with 9-for-16 shooting. He wrapped up a sensational first half with a 3-point shot and fed Schrempf for a dunk on a fast break for a 51-36 halftime lead. Payton played every minute and had three assists, three steals and four rebounds.

After two free throws by Aaron Williams gave the Sonics a 53-36 lead, the Rockets used a 10-1 run to trim the deficit to 54-46 with 8:10 left in the third period. Olujawon had six points during the spurt.

Scottie Pippen's dunk gave the Rockets a 59-58 lead, but the Sonics countered with a 7-0 run.

The Rockets shot 9-for-18 in the third period when they outscored the Sonics 25-14. The Sonics converted just five of 24 attempts.

Hersey Hawkins had a big first half. Averaging a career-low 9.2 points per game, he had 10 points in the first half and made two 3-point shots in the first two minutes of the game.

Payton's short jump shot over Mobley gave the Sonics a 46-34 advantage with 4:02 left in the first half.

Notes:

• Billy Owens did not dress because of a sore left knee.
• Aaron Williams made his first start of the season for the Sonics.
• The Sonics scored the game's first nine points -- all on 3-point baskets.
• Seattle's starting backcourt of Payton and Hawkins outscored the Rockets' starting guards Mobley and Michael Dickerson 43-13.
• Payton passed Jack Sikma and moved into second place in total field goals for the Sonics. Payton has 4,493 baskets and trails Fred Brown, who had 6,006.

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