IT'S OVER --- Sonics lose 104-99.

MASON SMOKING --- Mason has drained his third three-pointer of the period to bring the Wiz back into the game. The Sonics have to figure out what to do with Luke Ridnour. Every time he comes off a screen, the Wiz are trapping him and causing havoc.

THIRD QUARTER --- What a great period for the Supes. The surged ahead by 17 points (73-56) but went cold in the final minutes. Still they're up 75-68.

NICE APPLAUSE --- For Jim Zorn, the former Seahawks quarterback coach who took head coachhing job in Washington.

PULLING AWAY --- Green sank a hook shot that put the Sonics up 69-56.

HALFTIME --- The Sonics lead 56-50. Durant has been spectacular. He has a game-high 16 points and Damien Wilkins has chipped in 11. The crowd has grown a bit. Maybe it's up to 10,000, but I doubt it. Depsite the small numbers, it's a loud an enthusiastic crowd.

REBOUND DISPARITY --- The Sonics have 26 boards and Washington 14. Collison has nearly outrebounded the Wizards. He has 12.

FIRST QUARTER --- Washington leads 29-23 after 12 minutes. Stevenson has a game-high 11 points followed by Durant (8). Collison has seven rebounds.

SLOW START --- The Sonics trailed 11-4 before getting back inito the game and pulling to within 21-18..

EMPTY HOUSE --- There's no more than 8,000 people here tonight. It's going to be a sparse crowd and perhaps a harbinger of next two years if the team is forced to honor its lease.

ODD PAIRING? --- Microsoft mogul Steve Ballmer just entered and he's sitting courtside between the Washington Wizards bench and KJR-AM talkshow host Mitch Levy.

STARTING LINEUPS

WASHINGTON
F -- Caron Butler
F -- Antawn Jamison
C -- Brendan Haywood
G-- DeShawn Steveson
G -- Antonio Daniels

SONICS
F -- Jeff Green
F -- Nick Collison
C -- Johan Petro
G -- Kevin Durant
G -- Earl Watson

Officials: Jim Clark, Eric Lewis and Jack Nies

PRE-GAME NOTES --- Chris Wilcox will not play. He visited a hand specialist and will sit down with the trainers tonight to decide when and if he'll return.

TNT is in the building interviewing fans for a story that will run April 3.

After Friday's game, Kevin Durant and newly signed Storm Sheryl Swoopes will conduct a basketball clinich in which they'll share basketball tips and answer questions from fans.