At least the sun was out here yesterday, and the Sonics aren't the Denver Nuggets, who have a worse record and no playoff hopes to go with a recent racial controversy.

This is where Dan Issel made insensitive remarks to a fan of Mexican descent, causing him to resign as coach last month.

His replacement, Mike Evans, is 2-9, failing to generate positive results because of injuries to key players.

In comparison, the Sonics are robust, even if coach Nate McMillan feels otherwise after another blowout loss to Utah Wednesday night.

"Maybe it's time to shake things up," he said yesterday before practice at the Pepsi Center, site of tonight's game against the Nuggets.

McMillan was upset with his team's effort in Salt Lake City, especially on the boards, where the Sonics were outrebounded for the fourth consecutive game.

It's a point of concern, because the Sonics are the NBA's worst defensive-rebounding team, and the Nuggets are third-best at retrieving their own misses.

When opponents create second opportunities as frequently as they do against the Sonics, it frustrates McMillan, an aggressive player who always thought a loose ball was his.

That is why he is considering changes tonight, either in the starting lineup or in his rotation, looking for passion and a few more rebounds.

But the Sonics don't have many solutions, outside of showing a greater will to get to the ball.

There isn't a single Sonic in the NBA's top 25 in rebounding. Rashard Lewis is the best, tied for 34th with New Jersey's Keith Van Horn at 7.4 rebounds a game. When your small forward is your top rebounder, that is not a good sign.

Undersized starting center Art Long averages more rebounds per minute than any of his teammates, but his playing time has been limited by foul trouble.

"I'm spending a lot of time on the bench because of my physical play," he said. "The referees are not used to my style."

Twelfth man Olumide Oyedeji is active on the glass, but an offensive liability. Nonetheless, he might be worth a look given his philosophy and tenacity.

"Most of it is all about desire," Oyedeji said. "I think: 'If they miss, I'm going to get it.'"

Going into the season, the Sonics knew this would be a problem. They lost Patrick Ewing to Orlando and Ruben Patterson to Portland, two free agents who knew how to rebound.

They also have been without projected starting center Calvin Booth, who has missed most of the season with tendinitis in his right ankle.

Because they double-team so often, the Sonics find themselves out of rebounding position, another explanation for their vulnerability on the boards. Then there is the question of size: the Sonics are more wiry and athletic than bulky and strong.

Regardless of the reasons and/or excuses, they had better be ready for a Nuggets assault led by James Posey, who has averaged 10 rebounds in his past seven games, and Raef LaFrentz, who had 30 points, 10 rebounds and six blocks against Sacramento on Wednesday night.

At 11-26, the Nuggets would appear to be highly susceptible, but they are competent at home, going 9-12, and already have defeated the Sonics once this year at KeyArena, doing it in ominous fashion.

"They pounded us on the offensive glass," McMillan said.

The 19-18 Sonics need to solve their rebounding woes if they plan to remain a playoff contender. The next two days are vital to their progress.

In a strange scheduling twist, the Sonics face the Nuggets on back-to-back nights, here tonight followed by a rematch tomorrow at KeyArena on Gary Payton bobblehead night.

SONICS AT NUGGETS

WHEN: Tonight, 6 p.m.

TV/RADIO: KONG/6,16; KJR-AM/950