SuperSonics rally past Bulls for 98-84 win
(AP)
Updated: 2005-11-19 14:22

Ray Allen scored 20 of his 27 points in the second half to help the Seattle SuperSonics rally for a 98-84 victory over the Chicago Bulls on Friday night.

Allen could not find a rhythm in the first half, making just two of 10 shots, but was 7-of-9 in the second half. Rashard Lewis carried Seattle in the first half, scoring 13 points. He finished with 27 points on 11-of-21 shooting.

Seattle SuperSonics forward Rashard Lewis, left, deflects a shot by Chicago Bulls' Eric Piatowski (52) in the third quarter Friday, Nov. 18, 2005, at KeyArena in Seattle. [AP]

Luke Ridnour added 10 points for the SuperSonics, who won consecutive games for the first time this season.

Luol Deng scored 16 points for Chicago. Michael Sweetney, making his first start of the season, added 13 points and 11 rebounds for the Bulls in their third straight loss.

Trailing by 11 at halftime, Seattle started the second half on an 18-3 run to take a 51-47 lead. Allen scored eight points during the run, including a pair of 3-pointers. The teams traded the lead until the end of the third when Lewis and Vladimir Radmonovic made consecutive 3-pointers to give Seattle a 66-63 advantage.

Chicago went back ahead 69-68 early in the fourth on a 3-pointer from Deng, but Seattle went on an 18-2 run in just 3:02. Allen, Lewis and Mateen Cleaves all made 3-pointers and Vitaly Potapenko's layup gave Seattle an 86-71 lead with 6:52 left.

Chicago dropped its third straight on its annual Western swing while the circus is at the United Center. The Bulls are 1-41 since this yearly trip began in 1999.

Last in the NBA in scoring defense, Seattle held just its second opponent under 100 points this season. The SuperSonics were giving up 109 points per game coming into Friday and allowing teams to shoot 50 percent.

After shooting 47 percent in the first quarter, Chicago made just 22 of 64 shots in the final three quarters.

Seattle got just one bench point in the first 34 minutes, but got 21 points in the final 14. Radmonovic finished with six points and Mateen Cleaves had nine in the fourth quarter.

Seattle made just four of 18 shots in the second quarter, and went nearly 5 minutes without scoring, as Chicago turned a four-point lead into a 15-point advantage with a 14-3 run.

Chicago was 6-of-21 in the quarter, but outrebounded Seattle by 10 in the first half and went to the break leading 44-33.

Notes:@ Seattle coach Bob Weiss said G Rick Brunson would go through a full practice Saturday as he tries to recover from plantar fasciitis in his left foot. Weiss said if the practice goes well, Brunson could be active for Sunday's game against Sacramento. Brunson played 4 minutes in the opener and hasn't played since. ... Chicago F Tim Thomas was inactive for a second consecutive game.