WATSON NEARS TRIPLE DOUBLE --- He needs two rebounds and two assists to record a triple double. He's got 23 points, eight rebounds and eight assists. Durant and Wilcox each have 15 points. Watson is out now and will likely return for the final six minutes. Seattle leads 81-73 going into the fourth.

KINGS RUN --- Carlesimo wanted a timeout before Francisco Garcia buried a three-pointer in the corner to tirim Sacramento's deficit to 68-64. Obviously the timeout was never granted and the Kings now have momentum. Before this run, the Sonics were taking advantage of Sacramento's weak middle and built a 66-57 lead.

FIRST HALF --- The balanced scoring continues. Watson leads Seattle with 13, Wilcox has 10 and Durant 7. Seattle trails 49-48, but the Sonics are in a good spot. They're scoring at will and shooting 50 percent from the field. The Kings are really lousy on defense without Miller. They have no post presence, which underscores Carlesimo's point about attacking them in the middle. Artest has 17.

POST-UP PETRO! --- More screaming from Carlesimo. He wants Petro to punish Moore beneath the glass. He's pushing Petro to look for his shot and demand the ball. It's an exchange indicative of Carlesimo's coaching style. At one point, Petro threw his hands, shrugged his shoulders as if he had no clue what Carlesimo was saying. Carlesimo is prodding Petro and wants him to be more active. Petro has played five minutes and he hasn't attempted a shot and has two rebounds.

FIRST QUARTER --- Sonics trail 29-25. Good start for the Supes. All five starters have at least four points. Wilcox leads the Sonics with six points. But Artest is the early star with 13 points on 6-for-10 shooting.

P.J. ON THE PROWL --- Carlesimo is hounding officials because he believed they mistakedly ruled Watson's baseline jumper sailed out of bounds. Carlesimo thinks it was deflected out. He went after the officials for minutes and waited until the first dead ball to get a few more words in. The refs all said they didn't see a deflection.

STARTING LINEUPS
SONICS
F -- Jeff Green
F -- Chris Wilcox
C -- Kurt Thomas
G -- Kevin Durant
G -- Earl Watson

KINGS
F -- John Salmons
F -- Ron Artest
C -- Mikki Moore
G -- Kevin Martin
G -- Mike Bibby

Officials -- Jack Nies, Courtney Kirkland and Matt Boland.

PRE-GAME NOTES --- Coach P.J. Carlesimo says he'll have 12 healthy bodies for tonight's game.

Jeff Green will return to the starting lineup and Damien Wilkins will likely back him up.

Most of the talk inside ARCO Arena is about the Phoenix-Sacramento trade. Carlesimo, an assistant in San Antonio for five years, whistfully spoke as if he missed being involved in the upper echelon battles in the Western Conference. He understands that his team will need a few years before it's being talked about like the Spurs, Lakers, Suns and Mavs.

Also, Brad Miller is not playing tonight. The starting lineups will be released in a minute, but I think John Salmons and Mikki Moore will be among the starters.