IT'S OVER --- Sonics lose 100-97.

THREE AND OUT --- Not sure why Carlesimo didn't use one of his two 20-second timeouts when the team trailed 98-94. After two missed shots, the coach urged his players to continue playing, but they never got off a good shot.

STILL UNDECIDED --- Watson drained a driving layup to cut Seattle's deficit to 96-94 with 43.8 seconds left.

ANOTHER DROUGHT --- The Sonics are stuck on 80. They haven't scored in at least eight possesions. Detroit leads 90-80.

OKC VOTE WILL PASS --- News outlets in Oklahoma City are predicting the measure will easily pass. With 201 of 271 precincts reporting, the yes vote is 60.5 percent (30,895) and the no vote is 39.5 percent (20,149).

NO CHANGE --- The past 12 minutes did nothing to change the game. Seattle still leads by one, 78-77. The next six minutes will likely decide the game because the Sonics reserves are in and they haven't been very good thus far. If Detroit races to a sizeable lead, it will be difficult for the Sonics starters to recover once they re-enter.

STILL PERFECT --- Durant has converted on all five of his shots. He has 11 points. Watson lead all scorers with 14 and Wilcox has 10. Prince is tops for Detroit with 13.

NO BENCH SUPPORT --- Six Seattle reserves have contributed just seven points. Detroit has 16 bench points, led by Maxiell's five.

TALE OF TWO QUARTERS --- The Sonics took 22 shots in the first and second quarters. They made 18 in the first and just four in the second. That pretty much sums up the first half. Seattle still leads, but just barely 54-53. They managed 13 points in the period, which is four shy of a season low.

OKC VOTE PASSING --- With 20 of 271 precincts reporting, the measure is passing 57.3 percent (3,512 votes) to 42.7 percent (2,622) no votes.

SWIFT UPDATE --- The Sonics announced Robert Swift underwent successful surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his right knee today. Dr. Stephen Lombardo performed the surgery in Los Angeles.

THE DROUGHT --- After more than six minutes, the Sonics have scored just one point. They are 0-14 in the quarter. Seattle still eads 42-37 with 5:30 left. If Detroit was shooting better than 34.4 percent, then it probably would have raced past the Sonics. Seattle is now shooting 50 percent.

KENT'S FINEST --- Kentwood High standout Rodney Stuckey entered the game early in the second quarter. He made his first start Saturday in place of Billups.

FIRST QUARTER --- Seattle leads 41-28. Watson has 12 points and Wilcox and Durant each have eight. Prince leads Detroit with nine and Billups has eight. The Sonics are shooting 81.8 percent from the field. They've connected on 18 of 22 shots. Obviously that would be an NBA record if it held up. The score would be even more lopsided if the Sonics were better at the line. They are 5 of 9 on free throws.

RECORD BREAKER --- The 41 first quarter points is a season high and the most the Sonics have scored in any period. It tops the 40 points they scored against Cleveland. Still it's 10 points shy of the club record 51 set Feb. 13, 1970.

LOOKING AHEAD --- The Sonics may have caught Detroit napping. It looks as if the Pistons are more concerned about their game tomorrow at rival Boston than Seattle.

STRONG START --- Watson has connected on his first three shots to give the Sonics a 14-6 lead.

NO RATLIFF --- Theo Ratliff will not play. He's dressed in street clothes on the bench.

STARTING LINEUPS

SONICS
F -- Jeff Green
F -- Chris Wilcox
C -- Johan Petro
G -- Kevin Durant
G -- Earl Watson

DETROIT
F -- Tayshaun Prince
F -- Antonio McDyess
C -- Rasheed Wallace
G -- Richard Hamilton
G -- Chauncey Billups

Officials - Joe Forte, Zach Zarba and Derek Richardson

PRE-GAME NOTES --- A lot of the buzz in the building is being generated by newly signed journeyman center Theo Ratliff, who joins the Detroit Pistons for the playoff push. He's on the active list for today's game, but not sure if he'll make his Pistons debut against the Sonics.

Coach P.J. Carlesimo talked about how this road trip is different from the rest. For starters, it's the longest in days (13) and games (seven). The Supes face two teams (Detroit and Boston) with legitimate championship aspirations and four (Toronto, Milwaukee, Philadelphia and Indiana) with playoff hopes.

Nearly the entire team attended assitant GM Scott Perry's dinner party on Monday at his house.

Carlesimo waffled a few times when asked if Johan Petro has a chance of securing a starting spot next season with his play over the final six weeks.

Said Carlesimo: "No. In reality, we're not going to wipe the slate clean. He can make a case for himself and he can how we look at things (in the offseason) a little bit different. But in reality, what he does from Oct. 1 to Nov. 1 will be much more of a factor. He can change what we say in the offseason and what we're going to do in terms of drafting and deals. ... Could he yes, but it would be a really huge order for him to play at level where we say we got a starter. You know what? That's not fair to say that. Anything is possible."

Minutes later, Carlesimo said the team would likely seek to improve its interior defense and find someone who can give them a low-post presence. He said the same thing a day earlier after practice.