This is getting contagiously fun, and the Sonics don't want it to stop now.
But here is what confronts them tonight at KeyArena: Vince Carter and the Toronto Raptors, a streak-busting and optimism-crushing combination.
After whipping the Clippers 101-90 Thursday night behind Gary Payton's 43 points, the Sonics have won five in a row, looking more and more like a playoff contender.
They are 15-15 and rising, catching another team in a difficult spot: Toronto arrives after beating the world champion Lakers last night in Los Angeles. Carter left late in the game with a strained left shoulder that was to be X-rayed last night.
The Sonics have not lost since Dec. 12, blistering four opponents by an average of 18.5 points at KeyArena and outlasting Golden State in an overtime affair in Oakland.
Although much of the success can be credited to improved defense, home games and rested players, the Sonics also are overcoming many injuries, especially those that have thinned their front line.
They are winning without a center and a healthy power forward, as Vin Baker labors onward with a sprained thumb.
"This is a team that's not fully healthy, and we can get much more dangerous when we're at full tilt," Baker said. "Getting to .500 definitely puts us right back in the mix with every other team in the West. ... Now other teams know that we have another gear we can go to."
By the Sonics' next game, against Philadelphia on Friday, they could have all hands on board. Centers Jerome James and Calvin Booth are expected to be activated from the injured list, and Desmond Mason should be fully recovered from a knee sprain that has limited his effectiveness. Baker's thumb will also be closer to 100 percent.
Tonight, the Sonics will have one more player on the bench when Vladimir Radmanovic returns from a one-game absence due to a concussion suffered last Saturday against Detroit.
Radmanovic, the athletic first-round draft choice, gives coach Nate McMillan one more versatile player on the floor.
Even without the young Yugoslavian, the Sonics looked impressive enough to Clippers coach Alvin Gentry after Payton lit up his team.
"They are the best shooting team in the NBA," Gentry said. "This team was built around Payton. They went out and got guys who can shoot, because they know what he can do. They have had some huge wins, and they really seem to have it going in the right direction."
The Raptors can throw them off-course in an instant, particularly if Carter is available and effective.
The 6-foot-6 Carter is averaging 25.9 points and shooting 22 times a game, but he's hitting only 43 percent of his attempts.
"You treat him like Kobe Bryant or any other wing player. If he's in a threatening area, you send a double-team to him," McMillan said. "You want to force him to shoot over you. He commands respect. One person can't cover him."
Clippers guard Jeff McInnis played with Carter at North Carolina.
"I didn't think he'd turn out to be this great this soon," said McInnis, who was a junior when Carter arrived on campus. "He gained toughness from playing with us. In pickup games, we treated him real bad when he first came to school."
Chapel Hill, Los Angeles, Toronto -- it doesn't matter. Wherever the locale, Carter is expected to go off at any time.
"But he will help you out by taking bad shots sometimes," McInnis said. "He's one of those Allen Iverson-type guys. You ain't gonna stop him."
Unless, of course, the Lakers took care of that last night.
RAPTORS VS. SONICS
SONICS
VS. RAPTORS
TONIGHT: 7 p.m., KeyArena
TV/RADIO: KONG-TV/6, 16; KJR-AM/950
LINE: Sonics by 4 1/2
INSIDE: Woeful Bulls officially turn keys over to former center Cartwright. SEE D7
WHEN: Tonight, 7
WHERE: KeyArena
TV/RADIO: KONG-TV/6, 16; KJR-AM/950
RECORDS: Raptors 16-13; Sonics 15-15
INJURY REPORT: Raptors: C Hakeem Olajuwon (infected toe), G Chris Childs (sore ankle), C Mamadou N'diaye (sore back) and C Michael Stewart (sore knee) are out. G Vince Carter hurt his shoulder last night, and his status for tonight is unknown. Sonics: C Calvin Booth (ankle tendinitis) and C Jerome James (sprained foot) are out. F Vladimir Radmanovic (concussion) is probable.
SCOUTING REPORT: Raptors waffling around .500, but are certainly more capable. Aside from Carter (25.9 ppg), Toronto features Morris Peterson (12.5) and Alvin Williams (11.8).
OUTLOOK: Sonics catch another team on the second night of back-to-back games and are playing their best basketball of the season.
LINE: Sonics by 4 1/2
P-I PICK: Sonics, 95-93