The last time Karl Malone faced the Sonics, he didn't score a point.
   
This time, the Sonics didn't.
   
No, wait -- it only seemed that way during the Jazz's near-perfect third quarter, when Malone, with plenty of help from Matt Harpring, paid Seattle back with interest for that flu-induced, opening-weekend embarrassment. Malone scored 13 points, Harpring 15 and the Sonics just 11 in the decisive quarter, all the Jazz needed for an impressive 92-85 comeback victory in the Delta Center.
   
Malone was too weakened from a virus to play his usual game in Seattle last November, but he was way too healthy for the Sonics this time. Malone finished with a season-high 34 points and nine rebounds, and he captained a defensive effort under the basket that so flustered the Sonics' corps of big men, they were essentially limited to jump shots most of the night.