The Sonics hit bottom after losing to a desperate Miami team Friday at KeyArena. With Seattle playing the second of a back-to-back set last night ? on the road, no less ? good times in Sonicsville almost certainly would have to wait.
In six such back-to-back sets, that scenario has been a recipe for doom this season, without mentioning the fact that Seattle's last road victory occurred before Thanksgiving.
With all that in mind, Portland's 113-92 victory last night at the Rose Garden was almost a formality.
A familiar face diffused any thoughts of a Seattle upset. Former Sonic Ruben Patterson provided the tenacity and toughness missing from Seattle since his departure. Once, he dove in the stands to tip a ball to a teammate for a fast break. Dale Davis missed the layin, but Patterson somehow picked himself up in time to grab the miss and score the layup while being fouled.
Patterson's three-point play gave Portland a 96-82 lead with just over five minutes to play, and it was, for all purposes, over. Patterson finished with 19 points against the team that declined to re-sign him following an attempted-rape charge last season.
If there was anything positive for the Sonics to take from the game, it was the solid, spirited play of power forward Vin Baker, who finished with 20 points and eight rebounds in 35 minutes. Baker had been ineffective in the Sonics' previous two games, both losses, because of foul trouble. Last night, he stayed on the court and returned to his early season form.
Gary Payton, who has averaged 22.3 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists in his last three games, led Seattle with 21 points.