Sonics Snap Skid, Beat Blazers 97-84

SEATTLE — Kevin Durant scored 23 points and the Seattle SuperSonics snapped their 11-game losing streak with a 97-84 win over the Portland Trail Blazers on Monday night in what could be the final meeting of the I-5 rivalry.

With Sonics owner Clay Bennett pressing to move his team to Oklahoma City as early as next season, Monday night may have been the final time the longtime rivals faced off just 180 miles apart. The series started in 1970 and the Sonics hold a 98-94 lead.

The fact it could be the final meeting in Seattle wasn't lost on Portland coach Nate McMillan, whose No. 10 hangs in the KeyArena rafters after being retired by the Sonics.

"It's still hard for me to believe," McMillan said before the game about Seattle's potential move.

Monday night won't be remembered as one of the prettier or most entertaining games in the series' history. But Seattle finally managed to snap its second losing skid of 10 or more this season. Seattle's last win came at the beginning of March, an overtime win over Minnesota.

Damien Wilkins added 20 points off the bench, and Jeff Green continued his improved play late in his rookie season with 16 points.

Martell Webster led Portland with 22 points, but 15 came in the first quarter when the Seattle native hit four 3-pointers. Another Seattle native, All-Star Brandon Roy, struggled all night, looking fatigued and leaving a number of shots short. Roy made just five of 17 attempts and finished with 11 points.

The Sonics took control in the third quarter, which coincided with Portland's LaMarcus Aldridge leaving with a mild right ankle sprain. Seattle pulled even at 56 on a free throw by Durant, then took its first lead since the opening moments on Durant's 3-pointer seconds later.

Durant and Johan Petro combined to score Seattle's final 16 points of the third quarter, building a 71-63 lead. The Sonics then hit their first six shots to start the fourth pushing the advantage to as much as 12.

Wilkins seemed to counter every Portland charge in the fourth and Durant's tough baseline leaner with 3:10 left gave Seattle a 92-79 lead.

Aldridge had been playing the best ball of his young career, scoring 20-plus points in nine straight games before leaving early Monday night. He had 10 points in the first half.

The game was played with a noticeable security presence as supporters of the group Save Our Sonics bought a block of tickets and sat in the lower bowl holding signs and chanting "Save Our Sonics" during lulls in the game.

A Sonics spokesman said the increased security was in response to information received that fans may try and disrupt the game. There were no incidents.

Notes:@ Seattle played without F Chris Wilcox (finger) and G Earl Watson (finger and calf), its second and third leading scorers. Wilcox is expected to get a second opinion on his sprained right pinkie, possibly as early as Tuesday. ... Seattle signed G Eddie Gill to a 10-day contract Monday. Gill played 5 minutes.

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