If the NBA had a dictionary, the definition of a technical foul would feature a Portland Trail Blazers logo.
The Blazers were the Blazers the league and its fans have come to know again last night against the Sonics. Portland was whistled for four technical fouls, all for arguing with officials. Two earned Scottie Pippen an early ejection.
Though the Blazers overheated and the Sonics sizzled from three-point range, Portland outlasted Seattle, 92-86, last night at KeyArena.
Dale Davis, the Blazers' starting center, had a career night, finishing with 20 points and 14 rebounds.
Davis' efforts negated those of the Sonics' Gary Payton, who scored 27 points on the night he was named an NBA Western Conference All-Star reserve.
Six Blazers and five Sonics scored in double figures. Bonzi Wells adding 19 for Portland (23-20), which jumped ahead of the Sonics (23-21) into third place in the Pacific Division.
The Sonics' Vin Baker, his deeply bruised left shoulder already in pain, left the game in the third quarter after aggravating the contusion when his shot was blocked by Davis.
The third quarter was the game's most pivotal, the Blazers rallying from a 10-point halftime deficit to trail by only one, 69-68, after Rasheed Wallace drained a long jump shot at the buzzer.
Portland then overtook Seattle in the final minutes.