Wally Szczerbiak's production the past two weeks suggests he deserves to start. But Coach P.J. Carlesimo has no intention of tinkering with the Sonics' lineup right now.

Damien Wilkins will continue to start at small forward, partly because Wilkins is a better defender and rebounder (4.7 rebounding average to 1.8) and partly because Szczerbiak gives Seattle a scoring threat when rookie Kevin Durant is on the bench.

"He's doing a good job for us, for sure," Carlesimo said of Szczerbiak. "Part of the reason he's doing a good job are the matchups and the way he's being used. Still, it comes down to combinations together and guys being able to complement each other offensively and defensively."

"I like what he's brought to us. Could he be a starter? Of course, he could be a starter. He's been a starter for other chunks of his career, but I also think right now it's best for us to continue bringing him off the bench."

Seattle point guard Luke Ridnour, who just passed the two-week mark with his latest injury, said he feels ready to play.

But Sonics' trainer Mike Shimensky might have something to say about that.

Ridnour, who suffered a partially torn left quadriceps muscle during a game at Orlando on Nov. 13, has been out of the lineup since. He was expected to be out two to four weeks.

?It?s the worst thing to have to go through all of this, this early in the season, and not being able to help your teammates,? Ridnour said. ?But I know I?ll be back, and there?s a lot of basketball left.?

SuperSonics' forward Nick Collison will miss at least the next three games after breaking his nose against the Lakers.

Collison was on the active roster Wednesday night against Orlando, but Coach P.J. Carlesimo said Collison would not play. He will also miss Friday's game against Indiana and Sunday's game against Golden State. He will be re-examined early next week.

Rashard Lewis will make his first -- and only appearance this season -- back in Seattle on Wednesday night when the Magic face the Sonics at KeyArena.

"I started here. I grew as a man here. I was drafted in the second round, but I became an All-Star here in Seattle. I grew with the fans, the community," Lewis said. "There was just a lot of things I was really settled in, my feet were really planted in this city.

"Just watching [the Sonics] sometimes on TV I feel a little jealous I'm not out there on that court with those guys."

If Spurs guard Brent Barry has a say - and, of course, he doesn't - the Sonics would never leave Seattle.

Barry spent five seasons in Seattle before signing with the Spurs before the start of the 2005 campaign. He can't imagine the city without the Sonics.

"It's going to be sad for Seattle, and sad for the NBA," Barry said before the Spurs' game Sunday night at Key-Arena. "It's a great city, a great place to live, a great place to raise a family, the fans have always supported the team."

The Sonics are the oldest professional sports franchise in Seattle. The sticking point in keeping them here is Key Arena, which Bennett says is outdated.

Mouhamed Sene, a second-year Sonics' center, was concerned about being sent to Idaho for another stint in the NBA Developmental League. Nothing against the Stampede, it's just that Sene's dream is playing in the big leagues.

Well, until injuries clear up, Sene is going to see more minutes for the Sonics. He's averaging just 4.3 minutes in six games, but Kurt Thomas (right hamstring), Robert Swift (right knee/left foot) and Johan Petro (back strain) are all dealing with injuries that push Sene up in the interior rotation. Petro's return is uncertain while Swift is day-to-day.

And although Sene, a native of Senegal who started playing at the age of 16, can still be outmatched offensively, he does show glimpses of improvement.
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"We only have 11 guys to begin with and Mo has been aggressive and playing well," Sonics' Coach P.J. Carlesimo said. "He needs playing time. This isn't the playing time I envisioned for him, but if we've got to go big ? especially if there's any type of foul trouble ? yeah, Mo will be seeing some more minutes."

With a handful of NBA personnel in attendance, including Sonics' GM Sam Presti, Derrick Rose didn't show his amazing athleticism that's on display in a YouTube highlight clip which is drawing raves from streetballers and NBA players.

He didn't dominate, instead taking a backseat to sophomore guard Willie Kemp who led the Tigers with 22 points, and junior wing Chris Douglas-Roberts who added 16.

If there's a negative to Rose's game, it's his mechanical jump shot and a quiet, low-key demeanor which can be construed as nonchalance when he's on the floor.

"Sometimes he's too unselfish," said Rod Strickland, a 17-year NBA veteran who is in his second season as Memphis' director of student-athlete development. "I try to tell him to stay in attack mode. Once he's in attack mode, he'll make the pass or he'll make the play."

"A night like tonight is a great example. I think he gave them [Arkansas State] a break. I don't think he really went like he could have went tonight. But that's a freshman, and he's not like an O.J. Mayo who's coming out to score all the time. If we're winning, he'll probably be satisfied with just running the offense."

Kevin Durant made a buzzer-beating 3-pointer at the end of the second overtime, and Damien Wilkins scored a career-high 41 points in the Seattle SuperSonics' 126-123 victory over the Atlanta Hawks on Friday night.

With rookie Al Horford guarding him at the top of the key, Durant pumped once to get the defender in the air before shooting over his outstretched arm.

"Al Horford was right on it, but I faded away and fortunately it went in," Durant said. "I'm starting to get used to playing every other night or so, and I'm gaining confidence with my game."

Durant, the No. 2 overall draft pick, finished with 21 points to help Seattle improve to 2-8 following a victory on Wednesday night at Miami.

Joe Johnson had a season-high 39 points for the Hawks, who have lost three of four.

Luke Ridnour's MRI exam revealed a torn left quadriceps. Ridnour, who had the exam Wednesday, is expected to miss two to four weeks and more likely four, leaving the Sonics with essentially 1 1/2 point guards: Earl Watson and combo guard Delonte West.

Sonics' Coach P.J. Carlesimo said he wanted to give West more minutes at shooting guard, but that wasn't the case Wednesday. He and Watson each had six assists at point.

Available free-agent guards are John Lucas, Earl Boykins, Junior Harrington, Keith McLeod and, oh yes, Gary Payton, who has yet to retire. Or the Sonics could re-sign Jermaine Jackson.

When told he was not among the 24 Western Conference forwards chosen for the All-Star ballot, Sonics' forward Chris Wilcox looked as if someone had sucker-punched him in the stomach.

"You kidding me?" he said. "It's crazy. I don't know what to say. I'm not upset. Well, I guess maybe I'm a little upset. But more than anything, I'm just shocked that I wouldn't be on the ballot. I thought at least I would get a chance this year."

"You mean to tell me there's 24 other forwards in the West that are better than me. Man, that's crazy."