I've got the perfect solution for a situation in which two teams are relatively unhappy with the status quo.

I know it's early, but trade Calvin Booth for Shawn Bradley.

After all, neither center is playing for their respective teams, neither team is enamored with their long-term signings and the trade is very viable.

First, in Seattle. Booth signed this summer for $34 million over six seasons. He was supposed to be the Sonics' answer for their void in the middle, a shot-blocking big man with a little offensive skill.

So far, Booth has played a grand total of 279 minutes. He is averaging 6.2 points (4.6 if you take away his one big game of 24 points), 3.6 rebounds and, worst of all, less than a block a game. He is getting almost more fouls a game (3.1) than boards.

Granted, Booth has been injured, suffering from a sprained ankle and subsequent tendinitis, but, as Sonics coach Nate McMillan said about him, "I feel like if you are able to go, then you are healthy. I don't try to force guys to play. I talk about playing with pain, but if you feel like it is going to hamper you in any way, then you don't play."

There has been an undercurrent of rumblings among the team that Booth is giving them nothing. And they are actually playing well with undersized Art Long in the post.

In Dallas, Bradley, who was rewarded with a seven-year, $30 million deal in the summer, has not played in the Mavericks' past six games because he has been so ineffective.

In 23 games, he has averaged 5.3 points, 4.3 rebounds and 1.57 blocks, leading to some grumbling from his teammates as well.

"If we're going to improve on last year, Shawn's got to be a big part of it," Dallas co-captain Michael Finley said. "You can learn a lot sitting on the bench. If he has any love in his heart for this game and love for the guys on this team, I'm sure what he saw from the bench will help him."

Dallas loved Booth when he played there last season, particularly after he hit the big shot that enabled the Mavericks to come back from a 2-0 deficit to Utah in the playoffs and win the five-game series.

Mavs owner Mark Cuban said he would do whatever it took to keep Booth, but he could not circumvent salary cap rules and match Seattle's offer of $4.539 million this season.

Well, he can have Booth back now. Bradley makes $4.5 million, so the players' salaries are close enough to work under the league's stringent trade rules.

At 7 feet 6, Bradley would give Seattle the inside presence they have been looking for, and have still been unable to find. He does not demand the ball, he has stretches of decent play - which is why the Mavs gave him such a big contract - and he can change a game with his height.

Granted, it is not like the Sonics are finding a diamond in the rough. Bradley is what he is: big, soft and occasionally intimidating.

But so far, Booth has been just big and soft.

Making the deal may or may not help, but it certainly couldn't hurt.

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* Reach staff writer Frank Hughes at 253-597-8742, ext. 6120, or frank.hughes@mail.tribnet.com

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Around the league: WESTERN CONFERENCE

A Rocket on the rise

Houston's Eddie Griffin, the fourth-youngest player in the league (after Eddy Curry, Tyson Chandler and Gerald Wallace) had been making 29.7 percent of his shots.

But because half the Rockets are injured, Griffin made three starts last week and averaged 19 points, 9.7 rebounds and two blocked shots, and made 22-of-45 shots (48.9 percent).

"He was sensational," Houston guard Moochie Norris said of Griffin's breakthrough week. "Eddie is stepping up. Once again, he's a gunslinger. He knows he can take those shots out there. He knows he can block shots. He knows he can play this level. We believe in him. The coaching staff believes in him. And he believes in himself."

Miles away, but still there

Minnesota's injured point guard, Terrell Brandon, gets bored watching his teammates play on television. So he created an inventive form of support.

"I'm always two-waying, paging everybody during timeouts,'' Brandon said. "They don't get the messages until after the game, but I'm always two-waying guys with 'Good play.' Chauncey (Billups) dunks two-hands against New Jersey, I page, 'Good dunk, man!'So I'm always with them. They feel me. They know how much I love them and how much I am?a part of this organization, so I don't feel detached at all.''

Um, come again?

After New Jersey's Kenyon Martin flagrantly fouled Utah's Karl Malone last week, a play for which Martin was suspended, Jazz coach Jerry Sloan said:

"Our team has been considered a dirty team for a long time, but I don't ever remember us being involved in any situation like that," he said.

Somehow, Sloan forgot that Malone has been suspended four times - for hitting Isiah Thomas with an elbow (1991-92), for hitting David Robinson in the head with an elbow (1997-98), for taking a swing at Vancouver's Othella Harrington (1998-99) and for "backhanding" Dallas' Christian Laettner in the face while posting up (2000-2001).

Road tests coming for Clippers

Yes, the Los Angeles Clippers are off to a great start. But through Jan. 1, they'll have been home for 22-of-30 games. Afterward, they'll be on the road for 16-of-21 through the All-Star break, and 9-of-13 after it for a grand total of 25-of-38 on the road.

How the mighty have fallen

If the playoffs started today, the Blazers wouldn't qualify for the first time since 1982.

Does anyone look in the mirror?

After Shawn Marion dunked on the Blazers in a game that the Suns held control of, some Blazers players took offense.

Said Ruben Patterson: "We all seen that. We'll all remember that. Next time he tries to dunk against us, somebody will put him on his head."

Patterson forgets that he tried to dunk on the Sonics in the closing seconds of Portland's blowout of Seattle earlier this month.

Sweet music, sweet friend

The Kings' Chris Webber recently played in front of family and friends. Among the "friends" was supermodel Tyra Banks.

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Around the league: EASTERN CONFERENCE

Davis still suffering

Former Sonics guard Emanual Davis, who now plays for Atlanta, still is suffering from the accident he had on the Sonics' team plane that caused him to contract Bell's Palsy.

Two and a half weeks ago, Davis was elbowed by Allen Iverson of the 76ers.?The effect was instantaneous, what they call post-concussion syndrome. Davis lost his balance and his wits.

"Allen grabbed me," Davis said, "and asked me, 'Are you OK?' Well, I wasn't. I could hardly keep my balance."??

He has not been able to play since.

Smooth move, Jerry

Apparently, Tim Floyd's breaking point came when the Bulls were activating Ron Artest and Floyd wanted to put little-used Dalibor Bagaric on the injured list. Problem is, Bagaric was drafted by Jerry Krause and is Krause's pet project, so Krause ignored Floyd and placed A.J. Guyton on the injured list instead, even though the Bulls have only one point guard.

Grasping at straws, err, dreads

Miami's Brian Grant cut his dreadlocks, hoping it would snap him out of his season-long malaise.

"Each and every player on the team has to look at his performance and decide if they're giving the team everything that they can give," said Grant, averaging under 10 points and about seven rebounds. "I'm admitting it, putting it out there. I'm telling you right now, you're not getting Brian Grant out there. Like missing layups and everything. It's frustrating stuff."

By the way, the Heat is the only team not to reach 100 points in a game this season.

Maybe MJ can make a call to help

Washington's Richard Hamilton ordered a Microsoft Xbox video game system from a store in San Antonio because he could not find one in any of the other places he looked. After purchasing the Xbox, he had it shipped to his home in Maryland.

When his little brother opened the gift box Christmas morning, he dug through the Styrofoam packaging only to find two San Antonio phone.

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Rim shots

books and no Xbox.

"I couldn't believe it," Hamilton said.

"Tim Floyd was in an impossible situation. He didn't do anything wrong. Maybe taking the job."

- Orlando coach Doc Rivers

"If someone wants to offer us $700 million, I'm sure I can have my desk cleared out in a few hours."

- Celtics CEO Rich Pond, referring to the sale of the Red Sox.

The art of almost Zen ... but trying

Before the Pistons' game in Seattle last week, Jerry Stackhouse was reading "Anatomy of the Spirit," by Carolyn Myss.

"I've got my own little Zen thing," Stackhouse said, referring to the Lakers coach Phil Jackson, who likes to hand out books to his players.

Of course, less than an hour later, Stackhouse was getting himself tossed out of the game in the second quarter.

The Zen lessons are going slowly.

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Frank's Five

Staff writer Frank Hughes' five best centers in the NBA:

1. Shaquille O'Neal - Most dominant player in the game.

2. Vlade Divac - A big reason for Sacramento's success in Chris Webber's absence.

3. Jermaine O'Neal - Undersized, but a star of the future.

4. Dikembe Mutombo - One of the best shot blockers ever.

5. David Robinson - A shadow of what he once was.

This is not to suggest that the Seattle SuperSonics' record is not deserved, but the Sonics certainly have serendipitously benefited from injuries to others.

In their 31 games, the Sonics have played 11 games against teams who were missing their star players.

It started in the season opener against Sacramento, when the Sonics played the Kings, who were without Chris Webber. Since, they have played Denver without Antonio McDyess, Houston without Steve Francis, the Los Angeles Lakers without Shaquille O'Neal, Milwaukee without Glenn Robinson, Miami without Alonzo Mourning, Orlando without Tracy McGrady and Grant Hill, the Kings again without Webber, Detroit without Jerry Stackhouse, the Los Angeles Clippers without Lamar Odom and Toronto without Vince Carter on Saturday night.

In the games against Houston, Milwaukee, Sacramento the second time and Toronto, the player got hurt the day before playing the Sonics.

O'Neal and Stackhouse were ejected in the first half against the Sonics, and McGrady was injured in the first quarter.

"That's part of the game," Sonics coach Nate McMillan said. "They have had us without Vin (Baker), and us without (Desmond) Mason. I've said all along that when we had all our injuries, you have to make adjustments. There is nothing you can do about it. I just hope we can take advantage of it."

McMillan, however, said he does feel sympathy for the fans who came to KeyArena to see some of the game's best players.

"As good as (Carter) is and as much as he does, I want the advantage," McMillan said. "But I am a fan of the game. I like to see the guy play. And I'm sure our fans were looking forward to him playing against us. So there is sort of an empty feeling (because) he won't play."

After the Toronto game, the Sonics have five days between games. They play again Jan. 4, when they play host to the Philadelphia 76ers.

"I think two days is enough time off between games," McMillan said. "To have five days off, and a holiday in between where you can't practice, it's almost like wasting days. I would rather use those days somewhere else, like earlier in the season."

Lip service - When Rashard Lewis got an elbow in the face Thursday night from the Clippers' Corey Maggette, he said he knew it was bad when he felt his lip with his tongue and his tongue went all the way through the hole and out the front.

Lewis had to get 10 shots to dull the pain, then got eight stitches from the doctor.

Payton falls behind - Even though he is having his best statistical season of his career, Sonics point guard Gary Payton is third in the All-Star balloting of Western Conference guards.

Not only that, but while Houston's Francis (second place, behind Kobe Bryant of the Lakers) has been injured for a month, he increased his lead over Payton, who was named the Western Conference's player of the week.

"I think it's a great honor," Francis said. "It's one of every players' goals to win a championship and play in an All-Star Game. With me not playing in a month, it shows people were taking notice of my play. I think a lot of the national publicity and the things I did last year are helping me."

With six days before their next game, the Seattle SuperSonics should have everybody back from injuries the next time they play.

But the way things are going now, they may not want to fiddle with their chemistry.

Using a solid team performance, the Sonics won their sixth consecutive game with a convincing 101-75 victory over the Vince Carter-less Toronto Raptors before a sellout crowd at KeyArena on Saturday night.

The Raptors lost Carter, one of the top five players in the league, when he strained his left shoulder in a victory over the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday night.

"They did what they were supposed to do. They played well, they took advantage of us," Raptors coach Lenny Wilkens said. "It was like running in sand."

It was the 11th time this season the Sonics have played a team that was missing its star player, and they continued to take advantage of it, stringing together the current second-best winning streak in the league, behind Dallas' nine-gamer.

That does not take into account that every team that comes into KeyArena these days seems as if it has played the night before, or is on the end of a long road trip. Perhaps that is the reason that of the six victories, five have come by double digits, two by at least 20 points.

"That happened to us early in the year," guard Gary Payton said. "That's just basketball. We can't worry about that. We have to worry about when we go out on the floor, doing what we need to do to get us better. And that is what we have been doing."

The schedule continues to favor Seattle when the Sonics return from the New Year's break - Philadelphia comes to town to finish a six-game, 12-day trip.

That game concludes a stretch of games in which Seattle played six of seven games at home and with plenty of rest. After the Sixers game, the Sonics play nine of 13 games on the road in 26 days, a string of games that will go a long way in determining their fate in the race for a playoff berth.

"We don't want to settle for being mediocre," Sonics guard Brent Barry said. "We know January is going to be tough. We just have to regroup after New Year's, take some aspirin on the 1st and get ready for a tough month."

They should do it with the services of centers Calvin Booth and Jerome James, both of whom have been practicing and seem on pace to return.

But in improving to 16-15 and moving into a tie with the Utah Jazz for the eighth-best record in the Western Conference, the Sonics had more than enough firepower Saturday night.

Vin Baker helped spoil Wilkens' return to the city where he played and coached with 21 points on 10-of-15 shooting and six rebounds.

Ever since Baker suffered partially torn ligaments in his right thumb earlier this month, he has played extremely well.

He dominated the Raptors' Antonio Davis inside, and held Davis, an All-Star last season, to six points and five rebounds.

"He's played well," Sonics coach Nate McMillan said. "I think he has played his best basketball the last two weeks for this team probably since the first year he got here. He is getting low in the paint, and he is finishing."

Payton followed up his 43-point outburst Thursday with a solid 18-point, 11-assist, six-rebound effort in a season-low 32 minutes. And Rashard Lewis, whose lip is still fat after catching an elbow Thursday, had 18 points on 8-of-9 shooting.

The Raptors kept the game close through one quarter, riding the play of Morris Peterson and Keon Clark, trailing by four points after 12 minutes.

But the Sonics exploded thereafter, starting the second quarter with a 21-8 run that helped send Seattle to the locker room with a 57-36 lead, Toronto's largest halftime deficit of the season.

By the end of the game, Seattle's bench players were on the floor and its starters were on the bench, leading a throng of cheers for some unconventional showtime.

On one play, lumbering forward Predrag Drobnjak executed a reverse layup that brought the crowd to its feet.

Then, he grabbed a rebound at the other end, dribbled the length of the floor and dished off a no-look pass to Shammond Williams. Williams then threw a no-looker to Olumide Oyedeji, but the Nigerian had a nightmare, missing a point-blank layup.

It was about the only thing that went wrong all game.

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* Reach staff writer Frank Hughes at 253-597-8742, ext. 6120, or frank.hughes@mail.tribnet.com

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Sonics 101, Raptors 75

Friday: vs. Philadelphia, 7 p.m., KONG, 950-AM

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SIDEBAR: Game in review

Sonics 101, Raptors 75

KEY STAT - While the Sonics shot 51 percent from the floor, the Raptors missed their first 14 3-point attempts. They finished 4-for-21 from behind the arc. Dell Curry, one of the best shooters in the league, missed all six of his 3s.

STAR OF THE GAME - Predrag Drobnjak may never again have the highlight reel stuff of Saturday night, when he made a reverse layup and then dribbled the length of the court and dished a no-look pass. His 11 points and six boards earn him the honor.

TURNING POINT - In the second quarter, with Toronto's Eric Montross and Carlos Arroyo on the floor, the Sonics went on a 21-8 run to take control of the game.

KEY OBSERVATION - With a free throw at the end of the first quarter, Gary Payton scored his 16,000th career point. He currently is in 70th place on the NBA's all-time scoring list, passing Kiki Vandeweghe. "I never thought about it when I first got to the NBA," Payton said. "When I retire, I'll probably look at it in a different way."

QUOTABLE - "I don't know much about what they have done lately. It's obvious they have a little thing going on offensively and little thing defensively." - Toronto's Keon Clark.

NEXT - Friday, 7 p.m., vs. Philadelphia 76ers, KeyArena.

1. L.A. Lakers: With Shaq out, Jackson better uncross legs.

2. San Antonio: Smith's shooting caused that Alamodome fire.

3. Sacramento: Webber's ankle being scrutinized like Hill's.

4. Minnesota: Billups playing like he has under-the-table deal.

5. Dallas: Mellowing Cuban hasn't yet been fined.

6. New Jersey: Kenyon Martin having knockdown season.

7. Milwaukee: Thomas should split his checks with Cassell.

8. Boston: Someone tell Walker he's no Dale Ellis.

9. Indiana: Every payday is Christmas for Croshere.

10. Phoenix: Suns showing fighting spirit ? in practice.

11. Detroit: Blue-collar team is in a recession.

12. L.A. Clippers: Homecoming party to soon end.

13. Toronto: Michael (Yogi) Stewart has been sighted.

14. Seattle: Include trade-Payton advocates in military tribunals.

15. Portland: Van Gundy spotted at Rose Garden without bags under eyes.

16. Utah: Malone gave up MVP chase for Oscar nomination.

17. New York: Man of minimum moves (Camby) wants touches.

18. Washington: Asinine thought of season: Jordan hampering Wizards.

19. Orlando: Poof! Hill's injury evaporates Orlando's title hopes.

20. Charlotte: Low point: Hornets miss Mr. Whoop-de-darn-do.

21. Philadelphia: Mutombo using all 24 seconds for post moves.

22. Denver: Only thing Issel mulled was final buyout amount.

23. Cleveland: Wesley's shot still like a missing Person.

24. Golden State: Richardson's dunks are Woe-rriors' only highlights.

25. Atlanta: Restless Ted Turner might try to replace Lucas.

26. Houston: Rockets experimenting with wins.

27. Miami: Riley has enough material to pen "The Loser Within."

28. Memphis: Big Continent still missing.

29. Chicago: George O'Leary and Rick Barry should apply to coach.

Over the past two seasons, Milwaukee guard Sam Cassell has groused about his contract to reporters, teammates and management.

Complaining about $22 million over six years might seem like a stretch. But as one of the better point guards in the NBA, Cassell can claim he's underpaid.

Of course, no one forced Cassell to sign the deal, and there's nothing Milwaukee can legally do.

Because the Bucks want their key player to have peace of mind, the organization has offered the only thing possible under the collective-bargaining agreement: an extension with a relatively modest raise.

The deal is an extra three years totaling $17.1 million, which Cassell would start receiving after his contract expires this summer.

By making the proposal, Milwaukee is telling Cassell to pipe down and sign now or wait until the end of the season to try his luck.

The danger Cassell faces is that he will be 34 after this season. And in the luxury-tax era, almost no team will give a gaudy contract to a player nearing his mid-30s.

Cassell can take his teammate as an example. After his first All-Star season, Anthony Mason, 35, was told by Miami that he was too expensive to keep. Mason couldn't get a significant offer from any other clubs. Although the Bucks targeted Mason to provide an inside presence, they couldn't sign him until after training camp. Milwaukee had to maneuver by trading Scott Williams ? a key reserve ? so it could afford Mason.

Cassell has a point that he's underpaid, especially when compared to teammate Tim Thomas, who makes $9 million as a reserve.

But that's the drawback to the NBA's guaranteed contracts. They can't be ripped apart.

And if Cassell had turned out to be a scrub, he wouldn't have given anything back.

No Webber, no problem for Sacramento Kings

When Chris Webber became a free agent last summer, Sacramento's future seemed to hang in the balance. But last week, after Webber missed his second span of games, the Kings confirmed that they possess enough talent to flourish without last season's MVP candidate ? at least during the regular season.

Sacramento scored an NBA season-high 133 points while Webber watched from the side with tendinitis of his right ankle. It originally forced Webber to miss the season's first 20 games.

The most remarkable aspect of the Webber-less Kings is that they were among the top-rebounding clubs in the NBA.

Webber realizes that the Kings can win about 50 games without him. But the power forward has returned, if only to stop hearing the kooky medicinal suggestions from family.

"My aunt told me about the old remedy for a cold, where you put cow manure around your neck with some ammonia in there," Webber said.

"She said I had to put that bag around my leg."

Three-second calls

North Carolina may be struggling, but it remains the college program with the most former players in the NBA: 14 (Two happen to be among the best in the league: Vince Carter and Michael Jordan). The school with the second-most (11) is Arizona. ... If an award existed for most-regressed player, the leading candidates this season would be Indiana's Jalen Rose and Toronto's Antonio Davis. ... One way to appreciate the monstrosity of Shaquille O'Neal is to realize that the Lakers center dwarfs even Ben Simon, the popular, heavyweight dancer at Sonics games whose energetic moves belie his girth. ... Before this season, Pat Riley seemed like the quintessential winner. The last time the Miami coach experienced losing similar to now occurred during his first year in the NBA: his San Diego Rockets finished 15-67. But time must have healed those wounds. "I don't remember it being this miserable," Riley said. ... Two rookies who defend better than most NBA players: Sonics guard Earl Watson and Bulls guard Trenton Hassell. ... Players find it infuriating when a coach doesn't communicate about playing time. So after Brian Winters took over for David Cowens at Golden State, the new coach told center Adonal Foyle that he would see only garbage time until further notice. Foyle couldn't handle the truth. "It's horrible," Foyle said. "Certainly a vote of non-confidence. If I care about my job ? and I do ? it should be infuriating." ... Although NBC will be shut out of the NBA's next broadcast deal, Marv Albert is expected to take his biting commentary to ESPN or TNT, the league's broadcast partners for the next several years. ... It's worth noting that the perception of Allen Iverson has reverted to him being a reckless shooter now that Philadelphia is struggling. "We could have Michael Jordan out there," Coach Larry Brown said. "And if he just spotted up, I doubt he'd get the ball."

PLAYER OF THE GAME: Vin Baker insisted on playing last week after partially tearing ligaments in his right thumb. And last night, the power forward with a knock for being soft showed his toughness with 21 points (on 10-for-15 shooting) and six rebounds. Baker thoroughly outplayed tough-guy Antonio Davis (six points on 1-for-6 shooting).

TOP RESERVE: The Sonics had their best run of the game in the second quarter with Earl Watson ? not Gary Payton ? running the show. Watson finished with eight points, four assists and two rebounds.

KEY TO THE GAME: Without Vince Carter, the Raptors became even more of a perimeter team than usual. And fatigue from Friday's victory over the Lakers didn't help. Toronto missed its first 13 three-pointers before finishing 4 for 21.

The Sonics have had their best stretch of the season by exploiting a schedule more fitting for a college basketball team.

Instead of last month's cramped schedule ? replete with back-to-backs ? Seattle is playing with renewed energy from days off between games.

Starting today, the Sonics get their most time off this season between games: five straight days before facing the 76ers on Friday.

Although teams look forward to breaks in the schedule, the five-day lull is so long that the Sonics risk getting rusty just when things are going smoothly.

"I am concerned," Coach Nate McMillan said before last night's game against Philadelphia. "Whenever you have three or more days off, it can effect your timing."

The Sonics had four days off before Thursday's game against the Clippers, which the Sonics won 101-90. In Wednesday's practice, the Sonics used officials to try to simulate a game atmosphere.

McMillan doesn't intend to use the time off as a mini-training camp. The NBA doesn't allow teams to have organized practice on New Year's Day. And McMillan will reward his team for their recent play by not practicing today.

"We'll work," McMillan said. "But with the holidays you have to give these guys one of those days off."

Seattle's five days without a game is a quirk in the schedule that resulted from the Sonics having the NBA's toughest schedule during November.

"Three or four or five days off is a bad schedule," McMillan said. But pretty soon, McMillan might be squawking for a different reason: In January, the Sonics play nine of 14 games on the road, including three back-to-back sets.

McMillan sorry for fans

McMillan is no different from other coaches, who are so intent on getting a victory that almost everything else is secondary. If a rival star is hurt, coaches have a that's-the-breaks outlook.

But when McMillan learned that Vince Carter missed the eighth game of his career last night, even he felt for the fans.

"I did sort of feel sorry," McMillan said. "As good as he is, and as much as he does for that team, you want the advantage. But I'm a fan of the game and the players, and I like to see the (top) guys play.

Notes

? Sonics veteran Brent Barry turns the big 3-0 on New Year's Eve.

? Before the game, Desmond Mason was presented with a plaque commemorating his 2001 slam-dunk championship.

When the public-address announced that an injured Vince Carter wouldn't play last night, the fans filled KeyArena with boos.

The sold-out crowd was disappointed at missing their only chance this season to watch one of the NBA's most popular players in person.

But there was plenty of cheering and applause during Seattle's 101-75 victory for its season-high sixth straight victory this season.

By the end of the game, fans were in stitches at Predrag Drobnjak's ballhandling imitation of Isiah Thomas. And the game was such a laugher that Toronto's Michael (Yogi) Stewart came off a milk carton for an appearance.

"We're playing hard," said Vin Baker, who scored 21 points on 10-for-15 shooting. "We don't mind who comes in the gym or if they're with their stars or without them. We feel like we can beat anybody right now."

Baker's bold words are backed up by the second-best win streak in the NBA after the Mavericks, who have won nine straight. The most impressive aspect of the stretch is that the Sonics have won by an average of more than 20 points. Coach Nate McMillan's only quibble during the streak had been rebounding, and last night the Sonics won that battle 49-43.

"This team is capable of doing some good things," said McMillan, whose team shot 51 percent. "If they commit to defending the ball, if they commit to working and playing together. And they've done that the past two weeks."

Last night, Seattle had to alter its defensive scheme from one geared at Carter, who averages 25.5 points. But the Sonics used the same plan on offense against previous road-weary opponents: turn the game into a sprint and a scramble.

"We have to go out and play the game and take care of business," Brent Barry said. "And tonight we did a professional job of getting on top of that team which was a little weary, and taking them out."

Without Carter, the Raptors became even more of a perimeter team, as Tracy Murray and Dell Curry received increased minutes. But Toronto missed its first 13 three-point attempts before making one late in the third quarter, which cut Seattle's lead to 73-51.

Carter strained his left shoulder Thursday in the third quarter of Toronto's 89-86 victory over the Lakers.

He sat on the end of the bench last night, wearing a gray double-breasted suit, with a beige shirt and matching tie. Carter was relegated to cheering and exhorting his teammates.

"In his grill," Carter yelled after Alvin Williams swished a jumper over Gary Payton to cut Seattle's lead to 28-24 early in the second quarter.

Payton looked toward Toronto's bench to note the trash-talker before smiling after realizing that it was the Raptors forward.

Carter, smiling, said: "You heard what I said."

But soon, Carter turned mute and looked glum, as Seattle used the strategy that has worked so effectively during its hot streak: smothering defense, which led to several fast-break opportunities.

"They did what they were supposed to do," said Toronto Coach Lenny Wilkens, who was also without center Hakeem Olajuwon (infected toe).

"They came out and jumped on us early." The most ominous sign for Toronto was that the Sonics flourished after Payton rested on the bench with 9:30 left in the second quarter with Seattle up 30-24.

Earl Watson, who has shown uncanny defense and floor leadership for a rookie, orchestrated Seattle's run.

"Vin has been playing his best ball of the season the last two weeks," McMillan said.

By the time Payton returned with 3:17 left in the second quarter, Seattle led 49-34. The Raptors ended the period with their largest half-time deficit this season, 57-36.

"We weren't worried about who was on the other end of the other team," said Payton, who scored his 16,000th career point in the first quarter, bringing laud applause from fans. "We are worried about what we can do for ourselves."

Over the past two weeks, the Sonics have benefited from a string of games against teams whose best players were injured: the Magic (Tracy McGrady), the Kings (Chris Webber) and the Clippers (Lamar Odom). And last Saturday against the Pistons, Jerry Stackhouse was ejected in the second quarter. But the Sonics have had their share of injuries, especially to the frontcourt. So they don't intend to qualify their hot streak to enter the new year.

In September 2000, Patrick Ewing became the centerpiece of the biggest trade in NBA history, in terms of players exchanged. The four-team, 12-player deal stunned NBA fans, sending Ewing as far away as possible from New York, where the 7-foot center had played his entire career.

But following one season in Seattle, Ewing departed with little fanfare before signing with the Orlando Magic last summer for a fraction of his previous salary.

Ewing wanted to return to the Sonics but after his worst season in the NBA, management removed his $14 million salary to clear space for a younger free agent.

At 39, Ewing is the second-oldest player in the NBA after John Stockton, who was born 132 days earlier. Unlike the Jazz point guard, Ewing has looked every bit his age during his 17th season in the NBA.

Ewing has regressed so much since being voted among the top 50 players in NBA history that he comes off the bench ? behind Andrew DeClercq.

Ewing remains an excellent defensive rebounder. But the touch that made him one of the best shooting big men of all time has disappeared. And Ewing is routinely scored upon by younger, quicker big men.

The Magic sorely needed a big man in the off season, so it offered Ewing and Horace Grant each two-year contracts worth about $4.5 million. Ewing intends to retire after next season.

"Then I move on into the sunset," he said.

But on most nights, the former great looks like he should be playing in a senior-citizen's league.

One of his teammates said it best.

"I'm old," said the 36-year-old Grant. "But I'm not Patrick-Ewing old."

On Jan. 11, the Ackerley Group announced the sale of the Sonics and the WNBA's Storm for $200 million to a group led by coffee magnate Howard Schultz. The deal ended the tenure of Barry Ackerley ? chairman and CEO of his namesake company ? who bought the Sonics in 1983 before they went on to become one of the most successful NBA teams of the 1990s.

Although the Ackerleys were out of the NBA spotlight, they wasted little time making business news: On Oct. 7, the Ackerley Group ? which owns more than 6,000 outdoor displays, 18 television stations and five radio stations ? merged with Clear Channel, the global media company based in San Antonio.

The Ackerley Group was sold in a stock deal worth more than $750 million, which won't be finalized until about March 2002.

"It was time for us to consolidate," Ackerley said, "and I think we've chosen well and wisely."

The Ackerleys ? who are season-ticket holders of the Sonics and WNBA Storm ? remain avid fans of their old teams. The family lost two of its suites by selling the Sonics, one going to Schultz and the other to the NBA for broadcasting purposes. But the Ackerleys use suites leased by New Century Media and AK Media, the radio and billboard divisions of their company.

The Ackerleys have stayed involved in the Seattle community through the Ginger and Barry Ackerley Foundation, which is geared toward the education of local underprivileged children.

Barry Ackerley, 67, who once underwent quintuple heart-bypass surgery, is said to be in good health. His son, Chris Ackerley ? promoted to president of the Ackerley Group in July ? has taken a lead role in the family businesses.

Matchup - Toronto Raptors at Sonics

When - 7 p.m., KeyArena

TV - KONG

RADIO - 950-AM

The series - The Sonics lost both games last season, and have lost four in a row to the Raptors.

Scouting report - The Sonics have won five in a row, the second-best current NBA winning streak, behind Dallas' eight in a row. This is the Sonics' final game of 2001. They have six days off between games. Vladimir Radmanovic is expected to play after missing the game Thursday with a mild concussion. Besides partially torn ligaments in his right hand, Vin Baker injured his shoulder Thursday. He will play. Toronto played the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday night. Hakeem Olajuwon is injured and did not make the trip. Vince Carter left the LA game with a shoulder injury.

Next - Jan. 4, Philadelphia 76ers at Sonics, 7 p.m., KeyArena