Desmond Mason left his Renton home for the half-hour drive to Seattle for the team shoot-around. But en route to yesterday's practice, his new Range Rover blew a head gasket on Interstate 405.

The 6-foot-5 swingman remained in his car, and frantically used a cell phone to call a friend for a ride. Mason was fearful of Coach Nate McMillan's strict rules against lateness. Mason didn't make it in time for practice, and was penalized by losing his starter's role. But after Mason started the second half, he became the engine that drove the Sonics to a 99-81 victory over the Rockets last night at KeyArena.

"You need to start blowing head gaskets every now and then," Rashard Lewis told Mason in the locker room afterward.

The Sonics almost blew a lead as high as 18 points before Mason did his impression of Gary Payton down the stretch. Mason's timing was flawless in crunch time as Payton deferred to the second-year player. With 2:15 left, Brent Barry threw a no-look pass to Mason on the right baseline. Mason went up on the right side, and after Kevin Willis leaped for the block, the Sonics' guard ducked under for a reverse layup to give Seattle a 93-81 lead.

Although Mason was only five minutes late for the shoot-around, McMillan didn't give him any leeway.

"That's the rule," said Mason, who scored 21 points on 9-of-14 shooting. "He laid the law down in the beginning of the season, and he has to stick by it."