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Sonics advance after eliminating Kings 4-1
(Agencies)
Updated: 2005-05-04 14:15
Ray Allen didn't have to do everything himself, and his team is heading into
the second round of the NBA playoffs. Allen scored 30 points and Rashard Lewis
added 10 of his 24 in the fourth quarter, leading the Seattle SuperSonics to a
122-118 win over the Sacramento Kings on Tuesday night.
The Sonics eliminated the Kings 4-1 and advanced in the playoffs for the
first time since 1998. They'll meet the survivor of the San Antonio-Denver
series, which the Spurs lead 3-1.
Sacramento Kings guard Maurice Evans, left,
and center Brad Miller, second from right, squeeze out Seattle SuperSonics
guard Ray Allen in the first half, Tuesday, May 3, 2005, in Game 5 of the
first round playoff series in
Seattle.[AP] | Allen, coming off a 45-point performance in Game 4, was smothered by double
teams all night, but the Sonics supported him with a solid team effort reflected
by seven players scoring in double figures.
Reserve forward Nick Collison had 15 points and nine rebounds, Antonio
Daniels scored 14, Jerome James added 11 points and six rebounds and Reggie
Evans and Luke Ridnour each scored 10.
The Kings haven't exited in the first round since 2000, when they lost a
decisive fifth game to the Lakers. This year's playoffs also marked the first
time in franchise history they'd trailed 3-1 in a series.
Peja Stojakovic had 38 points and Mike Bibby 35, but Stojakovic missed his
first six shots of the fourth quarter when the Kings needed him most. Up to that
point, he'd shot 13-of-17 for 31 points.
Stojakovic finally connected, pulling Sacramento to 120-118 on a 3-pointer
with 36 seconds to play, but Allen answered by splitting three defenders as he
drove the lane for a layup with 12.8 seconds remaining.
Stojakovic missed another 3-point try, and the Kings' final opportunity ended
with 3.9 seconds remaining when Bibby missed from the right wing.
It touched off a celebration at the capacity-filled arena, with the Sonics
massing at midcourt to congratulate each other as fans stood and waved thousands
of yellow pompoms. James donned a garbage bag, a nod to his claim that the Kings
gave him a bag to clean out his locker after they cut him as a
rookie.
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