Even before the Seattle SuperSonics played their last game of 2001, coach Nate McMillan lamented that the team had five days off between that contest and the one Friday night against the Philadelphia 76ers.

With so much time off, it's easy to pick up rust and bad habits. It's also easy to forget about what got the Sonics a six-game winning streak.

McMillan's concerns, it turns out, were well-founded because the Sonics team that last made an appearance at KeyArena certainly did not appear to be the same one that showed up Friday.

This version had its victory streak snapped in an 87-77 decision to the Sixers that had many fans bailing out of their seats with almost six minutes left in the fourth quarter, disgusted at a litany of turnovers, blocked shots, missed jumpers and general malaise once the Sonics fell behind by as many as 21 points.

"Well, we looked as if we had been off," McMillan said. "Our execution wasn't as sharp (as) before we took this break."

It would be easy to say that the Sonics simply were rusty, as their 37.6 percent shooting suggests.

But they were playing a Sixers team that was at the end of a 13-day, seven-game trip that started on Christmas Eve. At this point, the Sixers were begging for five days off.

In actuality, the Sixers appeared to be a team that was better than the Sonics, or at least one that matched up particularly well with Seattle.

Philadelphia guards Allen Iverson and Speedy Claxton created havoc with their quickness, and no player in the Sonics' backcourt was able to keep up.

The Sixers' interior players, Dikembe Mutombo and Derrick Coleman, were more physical, shot-blocking presences, and they completely shut down Vin Baker, Art Long and Jerome James.

And, uncharacteristically, the Sixers shared the ball. Philadelphia coach Larry Brown said jokingly before the game that he wished he could coach the University of Florida's football team, so he could manage a team that actually passes the ball.

But the Sixers (14-18) readily distributed the ball among themselves, as if they finally wearied of playing sub-.500 basketball after making a run to the NBA Finals last season. Of their 33 baskets, 20 were assisted.

"That's a team that went to the Finals last year," McMillan said. "That is a solid team. There is a reason they went to the Finals last year."

The Sonics (16-16) would have liked to extend their victory streak to seven games, but not just because it would have been the longest active streak in the league.

This was what in baseball they call a getaway game. After this, the Sonics leave for a three-game trip, beginning Sunday in Memphis, Tenn., and play nine of their next 11 on the road in January.

Having a two-game cushion above .500 would have been a nice luxury, but it wasn't to be, partially because of the Sixers and partially because the Sonics could not control the ball.

They had 20 turnovers, their highest total since they committed 21 on Dec. 19, in that crazy overtime affair with Golden State.

Seattle trailed, 49-40, at the half, but nine third-quarter turnovers started a 10-1 Sixers run that essentially put the game out of reach.

"Just carelessness with the ball," McMillan said. "We never had a rhythm."

Basically, that was the game in a nutshell: The Sonics never had a rhythm. At first, they missed shots. Then Philadelphia dominated.

"This is the first time we've had everybody (healthy)," Brown said. "So, we've got to see."

In the first half, the Sonics kept Iverson, last season's MVP, in check. Iverson, guarded by both Brent Barry and Gary Payton, missed seven of his first nine shots, some of them rather badly.

But he started to heat up toward the end of the second quarter. He went to the free-throw line twice, then made his last shot of the half, a 3-pointer, finishing the first half with 11 points. He ended the game with 22 points.

When he made two free throws to start the third quarter, and then two consecutive shots, the Sonics fell behind by 16. And the way they were shooting, they did not have a chance to come back.

Payton scored 13 points, his second-lowest total of the season, on 6-for-15 shooting. Baker was 3-for-9, as was Desmond Mason. Long was 3-for-14.

If you are wondering how Long got 14 shots, it was because he grabbed a lot of his own misses.

It was that kind of night.

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* Reach staff writer Frank Hughes at 253-597-8742, ext. 6120, or [email protected]

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76ers 87, sonics 77

Sunday: Sonics at Memphis, noon, Ch. 5,950-AM

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SIDEBAR: Game in Review

76ers 87, Sonics 77

KEY STATS - The Sonics shot a lowly 37 percent from the field, turned over the ball 20 times, including nine times in the third quarter, and missed 8-of-14 free throws.

STAR OF THE GAME - Derrick Coleman had 14 points, 10 rebounds, three blocked shots and three steals, setting the tone early for a Philadelphia team that appears to be finally finding itself.

TURNING POINT - Late in the second quarter, the Sixers built a nine-point lead. Then Seattle threw the ball away nine times in the third, and Philly ran away with the game.

KEY OBSERVATION - Those familiar with the Sixers say the reports about Larry Brown resigning are malarkey. A television reporter in Philadelphia, not even traveling with the team, made the report on his station, and it went nationwide. This is not to say Brown eventually won't leave, but it probably will be after the season if it happens.

QUOTABLE - "I think this is really going to dictate the rest of our season." Vin Baker on the team's upcoming month on the road.

NEXT - Sunday, noon, Sonics at Memphis Grizzlies, The Pyramid.

- Frank Hughes


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